Final Report Project Code 2012MC09 Biodiversity Action Plan For Malvan and Devgad Blocks, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra Prepared for Mangrove Cell, GoM i Conducting Partipicatory Rural Appraisal in the Coastal Villages of SIndhudurg District © The Energy and Resources Institute 2013 Suggested format for citation T E R I. 2013 Participatory Rural Appraisal Study in Devgad and Malvan Blocks, Sindhudurg District New Delhi: The Energy and Resources Institute 177 pp. For more information Dr. Anjali Parasnis Associate Director, Western Regional Centre Tel: 022 27580021/ 40241615 The Energy and Resources Institute E-mail: [email protected] 318, Raheja Arcade, sector 11, Fax: 022-27580022 CBD-Belapur, Navi Mumbai - 400 614, India Web: www.teriin.org ii Conducting Partipicatory Rural Appraisal in the Coastal Villages of SIndhudurg District Contents Abbrevations: .......................................................................................................................... x Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. xii 1. SINDHUDURG: AN INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 14 1.1 Climate and rainfall: ...................................................................................................... 15 1.2 Soil: ................................................................................................................................... 15 1.3 Cropping pattern:........................................................................................................... 15 1.4 Water resources and irrigation: .................................................................................... 16 1.5 Forest ecology: ................................................................................................................ 18 1.6 Villages selected for the study:..................................................................................... 19 1.6.1 Villages with unique features in study blocks: ........................................... 21 2. PROJECT OVERVIEW: ............................................................................................................. 24 2.1 Aims and objectives of the study: ................................................................................ 24 2.2 Approach and methodology: ....................................................................................... 24 2.2.1 Stage 1- Designing study ................................................................................ 25 2.2.2 Stage 2- Data collection .................................................................................. 25 2.2.3 Stage 3- Field observation .............................................................................. 28 2.2.4 Stage 4- Identification of EPA ........................................................................ 28 3. LIVELIHOOD OPTIONS: ......................................................................................................... 29 3.1 Fishery ............................................................................................................................. 29 3.1.1 An Overview .................................................................................................... 29 3.1.2 Observations and trends ................................................................................ 31 3.1.3 Estuarine/ Creek fishery:- ............................................................................. 35 3.1.4 Views of fishermen: ........................................................................................ 36 3.1.5 Fishery sector issues and possible recommendations: ............................... 36 4.1.6 Fishery – Possible EPA‖s: ..................................................................................... 41 3.2 Agriculture: ..................................................................................................................... 42 3.2.1 An overview ..................................................................................................... 42 3.2.2 Agriculture: Observations and trends. ......................................................... 45 3.2.3 Agriculture sector issues and possible recommendations: ....................... 48 3.3 Tourism ........................................................................................................................... 54 3.3.1 Background: ..................................................................................................... 54 3.3.2 Impacts:............................................................................................................. 55 3.3.3 Tourism sector issues and possible recommendations: ............................. 55 4. BIODIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE ................................................. 60 4.1 Biodiversity: An overview ............................................................................................ 60 ii Conducting Partipicatory Rural Appraisal in the Coastal Villages of SIndhudurg District 4.2 Biodiversity issues and recommended action plan for conservation: .................... 61 4.2.1 Biodiversity conservation approach and methodology- ........................... 61 4.2.2 Sea Turtle species conservation: .................................................................... 62 4.2.3 White bellied Sea-Eagle conservation- ......................................................... 67 4.2.4 Marine species conservation and anthropogenic interference: ................ 71 5. SELECTED ENTRY POINT ACTIVITIES (EPAS): ................................................................... 78 5.1 Bamboo cultivation and processing as an EPA ......................................................... 78 5.1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 78 5.1.2 Significant species of bamboo ....................................................................... 78 5.1.3 Policies on bamboo ......................................................................................... 78 5.1.4 Rationale of bamboo as an EPA in Sindhudurg: ........................................ 80 5.1.5 Uses of bamboo in the context of Sindhudurg: ........................................... 80 5.1.6 Market linkages ............................................................................................... 81 5.1.7 Forward linkages: ............................................................................................ 81 5.1.8 Commercial viability ...................................................................................... 82 5.1.9 Potential villages for implementing the EPA .............................................. 82 5.2 Mushroom Cultivation as an Entry Point Activity (EPA) ........................................ 86 5.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 86 5.2.2 Significant species of mushroom .................................................................. 86 5.2.3 Policies on Mushroom .................................................................................... 86 5.2.4 Rationale of mushroom as an EPA in Sindhudurg .................................... 87 5.2.5 Backward and forward linkages ................................................................... 87 5.2.6 Forward linkages: ............................................................................................ 88 5.2.7 Commercial viability: ..................................................................................... 88 5.2.8 Potential villages for implementing the EPA .............................................. 88 5.3 Mussel, Oyster and Clam culture as an EPA ............................................................. 90 5.3.1 Introduction: .................................................................................................... 90 5.3.2 Policies on Mussel, Clam and Oyster culture: ............................................ 91 5.3.3 Rationale of Mussel, Oyster and Clam culture in Sindhudurg: ............... 93 5.3.4 Culture methods .............................................................................................. 94 5.3.5 Uses of Mussels: .............................................................................................. 94 5.3.6 Porntial villages for mussel,oyster and clam culture: ................................ 95 5.4 Introduction and promotion of Fish Aggregation Devices and Artificial Reefs as an EPA ................................................................................................................................ 103 5.4.1 Introduction: .................................................................................................. 103 5.4.2 Construction and maintenance: .................................................................. 104 5.4.3 Rationale of artificial reef and fish aggregating devices installation: .... 106 5.4.4 Policies on artificial reefs and floating fish aggregation devices: ........... 106 iii Conducting Partipicatory Rural Appraisal in the Coastal Villages of SIndhudurg District 5.4.5 Backward and forward linkages ................................................................. 106 5.4.6 Commercial viability: ................................................................................... 106 5.4.7 Potential