Meridian Vol. 8 (2). 8-18. June 2019 ISSN: 2278-750x Flood Impact on Biodiversity and Ecosystems In The Athirapilly- Malakkappara Region (Athirapilly Grama Panchayath) An Executive Summary Along With Policy Inputs Of The Case Study Amitha Bachan K.H1. and M. P. Shajan2 1. Assi. Prof & Research Guide, Research and PG Department of Botany MES Asmabi College, P. Vemballur Thrissur. 2. Director, Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation, Thrissur Kerala, 680685. Abstract unique floristic diversity. The forest cover of the country constitutes about The abnormal rainfall and 2 subsequent flood happened in Kerala in 21.05% (692,027 km ) of India’s total August 2018 had severe impact on river geographical area. Champion & Seth systems, riparian forests as well forest (1968) have recognized 16 major forest areas with landslide. The Kerala State types comprising 221 subtypes in the Biodiversity Board had entrusted the country. The Western Ghats mountain team with a case study on impact of flood chain running parallel to the Western and landslide on forest and biodiversity Coastline of Southern India is one among and selected Athirapilly Grama three Biodiversity Hotspot of the world Panchayath as suitable unit. The study (Myer et al., 2000) and is considered as using rapid assessment methods, mapping one among the eight hottest hotspots of in comparison with the previous biodiversity across the world. The biodiversity data available with the Western Ghats harbors 7,402 species of research team has brought out a wide flowering plants, 1,814 species of non- range of inputs on impact on forests, flowering plants, 139 mammal species, unique ecosystems such as riparian 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, forests, endangered species, hornbill 6,000 insectsc species and 290 freshwater nesting trees, and other biodiversity and fish species including nearly 325 globally also on forest dependent ethnic and other threatened taxa (Bawa et al., 2007). community. The results are summarized Kerala has richest biodiversity here as an executive summary and policy wealth including 5094 flowering plants document. with 1709 endemic taxa (Sasidharan, Introduction 2004). The Anamalai landscape unit extend from Nelliyampathi Hills upto the India has a total geographical area Anamudi Peak (highest mountain chain of about 329 million hectares with forests in the Western Ghats 2694m) in Munnar cover 23 % of geographical area of the are considered one among the three- country. The country supports a diverse biodiversity hotspot regions within the array of habitats or ecosystems such as Western Ghats (Nair, 1996). The forests, grasslands, wetlands, coastal, Chalakkudy River is considered as richest marine and desert and each with rich and fish diverse river in the region with 104 fresh water species with 3 Critically 8 Meridian Vol. 8 (2). 8-18. June 2019 ISSN: 2278-750x Endangered (IUCN) species endemic to rainfall and subsequent landslide and also the River (Raghavan et al., 2000). The due to torrential river runoff since the six forests areas of Athirapilly region comes major dams in the upstream (Upper within one of the high biodiversity rich Sholayar Dam, Lower Sholayar Dam, forests tracts (Nair, 1997; Bachan, 2006; Parambikulam Group Dams Sasidharan, 2004). The pioneering studies (Parambikkulam, Peruvaripallam, on riparian forests were conducted in the Thunakkadavu) and the Poringalkuthu) Chalakkudy River in the Western Ghats had to open on a sudden due to heavy and are account for the fish diversity rainfall in the 1704 Sq Km Catchment. (Bachan, 2003, 2010; Bachan et al., The results were heavy damage to the 2014; Bachan and Pooja 2018). Ecosystems especially the Riparian The abnormal rainfall and Forests as well as other forest areas due subsequent flood happened in Kerala in to Landslide. August 2018 had severe impact on river The results are summarized here systems, riparian forests as well forest as an executive summary and policy areas with landslide and severe erosion. document. The study collected According to data from India’s ministry benchmark data on all the ecosystems of home affairs, a total of 1375 human ranging from riparian forests to the lives were lost and over 400 were injured evergreen forests in, biota all the groups this monsoon season due to floods across of plants and animals and the impact of eight states. Of the eight states, the flood on them towards developing proper damage in Kerala is the most prominent suggestions for the management of the as it recorded loss of 498 human lives so ecosystem. far (till September 13) and injuries to at Materials and Methods least 140 persons, the death of 46,867 animals and 17.2 million poultry. The Study Area areas of the Chalakkudy river Basin is Athirapilly Grama Panchayath is the largest one of the worst affected due to heavy of the Thrissur district and fourth Fig.1 Study Area 9 Meridian Vol. 8 (2). 8-18. June 2019 ISSN: 2278-750x among the Gram Panchayaths of the Kerala 1. Assessment of Impact of Flood and state. Athirapilly panchayath has high Landslide biodiversity richness and is an important eco The Athirapilly Grama Panchayath area was tourism location in Southern India, blessed gridded into 108 grids for systematic with the famous Vazhachal and Athirapilly sampling (Fig 2). The grids were used as a Waterfalls and the Vazhachal-Sholayar common platform for sampling of impacts Forests. The Vazhachal Forest Division such as i. Landslide impact, ii. Flood impact completely comes within the Administrative on riparian areas, iii. Impact on Ecosystems boundary of the Grama Panchayath and including Forest types, iv. Impact on Flora portions of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and v. Fauna following the methods used in and Chalakkudy Forest Division of central rapid assessment (MoEF, 2014; Bachan et forest circle account for high biodiversity al., 2019). value. The Athirapilly Grama panchayath is 2. Landslide impact located 10o 14l 47.72ll - 10o 22l 59.77ll N and o l ll o l ll The entire area of the Panchayath is 76 26 18.78 - 76 54 5.56 E in the surveyed to understand landslide locations. Chalakkudy thaluk of Thrissur district, 24- All such location were photographed, GPS 95 km East from the Chalakkudy town along recorded and plotted in the map using GIS the Anamala Road. The Grama Panchayath software: QGIS and Google earth platform. is 60 km away from the district headquarters The dimension of each landslides were in Thrissur city, 70 km northeast measured in the field and were 3 types; i. of Kochi city, 55 km northeast of Cochin Small, ii. Medium and iii. Large Landslide. International Airport and 30 km Detailed Fieldworks were carried out from Chalakudy town. The southern thoroughly in selected landslide locations of boundary is covered by Chalakkudy River, Athirapilly Panchayath for quantitative and Ernakulam district, Valaparai of estimation of the landslide. The impact area Coimbatore Dstrict of Tamil Nadu at the measured for each selected landslide from Eastern Boundary of Thrissur District, and each type. The data was tabulated and the Western boundary is covered by estimated to understand the total area loss Pariyaram and Kodassery Grama due to landslide and also for estimating loss Panchayaths (Fig 1). happened to each category of forest Methodology ecosystem and also to residential areas. Fig.2 Sampling grids 10 Meridian Vol. 8 (2). 8-18. June 2019 ISSN: 2278-750x 3. Impact on River habitat: stretches divided into different zones (A, B, The main river from Orukombankutty up C, D, E, F, G,H). All the zones except E and to the Athirapilly Falls was divided into 3 F completely comes under the Athirapilly zones and sampling locations were selected Grama Panchayath. All these zones coming from each zone , they are under different grids were surveyed with a scheduled prepared especially for the • Zone A Orukombankutty - Poringalkuthu assessment of the impact on riparian forests. • Zone B poringal – Vazhachal rapid The same schedule has been given for preparation of schedule for assessment of • Zone C Vazhachal rapid– Athirapilly riparian vegetation in other rivers including waterfalls Chalakkudy River on a different Each sampling locations were collaborative project funded by KSBB. The surveyed systematically for impact of flood data were analysed to understand the impact 2018 on various habitats in the river. A on riparian vegetation. The areas were datasheet was prepared for a rapid mapped using the GIS and quantitative assessment and the survey was conducted estimation of the species composition and January - February 2019. The affected sites structure were done laying out quadrats of where ranked based on the level of damage sample size 20 x 15 m (0.333 ha). The caused to them and recorded in the impacted resilient taxa from each locations datasheet. The criterion were LA-Little and also from the quantitative assessment Affected, MA-Moderately Affected, SA- were elucidated for the analysis. Seriously Affected and CD- Completely Results Destroyed. Criteria for ranking are water level, siltation, vegetation, soil deposition 1. Landslide and Impact and erosion. The study documented 28 4. Impact on Flora and Endangered landslides of small to large category species causing loss to 283.72 ha area and major The distribution of endangered reason is the improper construction of species and important flora were mapped roads along high slope or removal of based on the information collected. The area vegetation cover in steep flowing of impact due to landslides in each location streams. A Total of 5 landslides occurred were calculated to understand the impacted in residential areas one in Non- tribal species as well as impact on endangered land Pandarampara and 4 landslides flora. Quantified estimation of the loss of occurred in the tribal agricultural land endangered species were enumerated form mainly in Thavalkkuzyppara, Anakayam, the phytosociological data. Adichilthotty and Kappayam. One of the high impacted landslides occurred at 5.