The environmental plight of Pallikaranai Wetlands cover around 6% of the earths land surface and consist of land where the water level remains near or.

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
Conservation is now ,the earth doesn’t wait
Advertisements

South America Amazon Rainforest. The World’s Rainforests Rainforests cover 7% of the Earth’s land surface. The world’s tropical rainforests are home to.
Types of Global Environments Made by Brielle Burns.
Aquatic Ecosystems 6.L.2.3 Summarize how the abiotic factors (such as temperature, water, sunlight, and soil quality) of biomes (freshwater,
CONSERVATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS. Our first prime minister JAWARLAL NEHRU said “ life would be very dull and colourless if we did not have these magnificient.
What’s an Estuary?.
Biodiversity in Vietnam
Movement of Fresh Water…back of 90. Movement of Water…back of 9Movement of Water…back of 90 1.What is a river basin? 2.What is a water shed? 3.What is.
Wetlands What are they? Why are they important? How are they threatened? What we can do.
Coral Reefs.
Section 2: Biodiversity at Risk
10. 2 Objectives Define and give examples of endangered and threatened species. Describe several ways that species are being threatened with extinction.
LIVING SYSTEMS WATERSHEDS
WATER POLLUTION.  Water covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. While less than 3 percent of this water is drinkable, all of it is necessary.
Freshwater Habitats and Their Management. Of the World 70% of the world is filled with Water 97% of that water is from the ocean meaning… 97% is salt.
Unit 4: Tourism and the Environment.  Natural environment being destroyed because of greed.  Wetlands, marshes, forests disappearing for buildings,
Fresh Water Wetlands What areas count as wetlands?
CHAPTER 6 HUMANS IN THE BIOSPHERE
Humans in the Biosphere
10.1 – what Is Biodiversity?.
SIERRA LEONE ACHIEMENTS AND PROSPECTS IN MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE INTO DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN SIERRA LEONE.
Objectives Describe the factors that determine where an organism lives in an aquatic ecosystem. Describe the littoral zone and the benthic zone that make.
Bellringer Describe the different plants and animals in the salt water aquarium show in the picture. What requirements do the fish in the aquarium need.
GREEN EARTH ORGANIZATION- Biodiversity Conservation Activities Kwesi Anderson 11/05/2009.
Wetlands A wetland is a habitat where plants (and associated animals) that thrive under periodic or continuous flooding reside  Wetlands may not be “wet”
11-4 How Should We Protect and Sustain Wetlands?
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS Determined by the salinity of water 2 types: Freshwater & Marine.
Wetlands. What is a Wetland? Types of wetlands. – Marshes – Swamps – Bogs – Fens Types of wetlands. – Marshes – Swamps – Bogs – Fens Water saturated patches.
Chapter 17 Land Resources. Land Use - Worldwide Land Use - United States  55% of US land is privately owned  Remainder of land is owned by government.
Aquatic Ecosystems Chapter 7.
By Amoal Brar. Background Information Consisting of five fresh water lakes: Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario Were created during the.
Boreal Forest Wetlands of North America By: David Baker April 11, 2005.
The Grow-A-Tree Program Grade 6
Aquatic Ecology Notes.
Preserving Our Wetlands A Presentation of the Madison County Park System.
Biodiversity. Bio = Life Bio = Life Diverse = consisting of different things Diverse = consisting of different things Refers to the variety of species.
1 Chapter 1: Introduction to the Environmental Science Introduction to the Environment Mr. Yim Mongtoeun Department of Environmental Science Royal University.
I CAN: DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TWO TYPES OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS: FRESHWATER & MARINE.
Presentation «Ecological problems». Since ancient times Nature has served Man, being the source of his life. For thousands of years people lived in harmony.
Wetlands Swamps and Marshes
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM.  The quality of the environment, both natural and man- made, is essential to tourism.  However, tourism's relationship.
SALT WATER LIFE ZONES. COASTAL ZONE  Supratidal mark to the continental shelf  Warm, nutrient-rich, shallow water  Supports 90% of all marine ecosystems.
Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity. Questions for Today  What are the major threats to aquatic biodiversity (HIPPCO)?  How can we protect and sustain marine.
Chapter 20 Environmental Protection
FRESHWATER and ESTUARY BIOMES. Chapter 20 Stream and River Ecosystems The water in brooks, streams, and rivers flows from melting snow, rain or a spring.
Excess Nitrogen in the Environment. Human Activities that change the balance of Nitrogen in the environment  Using Artificial Fertilizers for agriculture.
Unit 7 – Water Systems Section 2- Wetlands.
GREEN You are responsible for recording everything typed in GREEN on your notes sheet.
Chapter 7 Environmental Science
Barrier Islands… The low down.. On these important depositional features The low down.. On these important depositional features.
Prepared by Ann Leontyeva. Nowadays we have many global problems. One of the most danger today is ecological!
Aquatic Biomes. Determined by Salt content Flow rate Size (sometimes) 2 major categories of aquatic biomes: Salt water system Freshwater.
North Carolina Objective: Understand How is North Carolina affected by human activity? Catalyst- Objective: Understand How is North Carolina affected by.
Unit 2 Lesson 2 Aquatic Ecosystems
Unit 2 Lesson 2 Aquatic Ecosystems
FAUNAL DIVERSITY.
CHAPTER 4 Environmental Studies, 2e
The Earth's Resources.
Aquatic Ecosystems Chapter 7.
The Earth's Resources.
Happy Tuesday! – 11/8 Which of the following is a shallow zone in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom and nurtures plants?  A Benthic.
WETLANDS.
Chapter 7 Environmental Science
What’s an Estuary?.
Water and the Atmosphere – Chapter 1 Lesson 4
GLOBAL WARMING.
How Humans Influence Ecosystems
Mind Stretcher Chapter 20
Jeopardy and ummm… Splish Drippity Kaplunk Q $100 Q $100 Q $100 Q $100
Mind Stretcher Chapter 20
Presentation transcript:

The environmental plight of Pallikaranai Wetlands cover around 6% of the earths land surface and consist of land where the water level remains near or above the surface of the ground for most of the year. Wetlands include marshes, swamps, lagoons, bogs, fens and mangroves – all of which store water for extended periods of time and help keep floods in check, prevent coastal erosion and mitigate the effects of natural disasters like cyclones and tidal waves. They are home to an incredibly diverse range of plants and animals. A recent survey carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India reveals that 70-80% of freshwater marshes and lakes in the Gangetic flood plains have been lost over the last five decades. At present, only 50 percent of Indias wetlands remain. They continue to disappear at an alarming rate of 2-3% every year leading to environmental and ecological problems including an increase in flooding, a rapid decline in species, and a reduction in water quality. Lalitha N and Sivapradha CR visited the Pallikarnai wetlands to capture photos that depict the environmental changes taking place in one of Chennais few natural ecosystems.

The Pallikaranai wetland is a fresh water swamp adjacent to the Bay of Bengal and is located about 20 kilometres south of Chennai. As one enters Pallikaranai, it is hard to ignore the incredible rate of development, such as the construction of this flyover in the midst of the marsh, that is taking place in the area. Developmental paradox

A survey carried out by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Board in 2002 revealed that Pallikarnai was home to more than 60 species of plants, 40 species of fish, 100 species of birds, 5 species of butterflies, and 20 species of reptiles as well as a diverse range of molluscs and amphibians. It is also one of the few places where vegetation such as the Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce grow naturally. Now, however, the biodiversity of fauna is not what it used to be. High pollution levels have reduced the numbers of these species, and the low faunal presence in the marshlands indicates high levels of wetland degradation. Photographer: Ramanan This photo is not the property of CDF Diverse ecosystem

At the time of independence, these wetlands covered 5,000 hectares extending from Velachery to Sholinganallur in the East and Jalladampet in the West. By 2002, rampant construction, including that of high rise buildings and IT parks, had caused the Pallikarnai wetlands to shrink to 593 hectares. Rampant construction

Ongoing sanctioned constructions, such as government institutions like NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology), as well as illegal constructions have not just stripped the swamp of a large extent of land but have also clogged the natural conduits into the marshland which increases the chances of flooding in neighbouring areas. Dire consequences

317 hectares of the marsh was declared a forest reserve by the State of Tamil Nadu. Scientists and researchers involved with the protection of the marsh argue that an additional 150 hectares, located on both sides of the Thoraipakkam-Tambaram road that bisects the marsh, should also be declated a forest reserve. Reserved forest areas

Directly adjacent to the forest reserve block, concrete buildings have started to sprout up on the Velachery- Perungudi Road. The fate of reserved areas

Another major threat to the ecological balance of the marsh comes in the form of the Municipalitys appropriation of180 hectares of the marsh for dumping and incinerating garbage. This is in addition to the tons of garbage already being dumped into the swamp by a private sanitation unit. Besides the production of carcinogenic toxins created by the burning of garbage, the marshland has further been destroyed by the construction of a pathway through the marsh to facilitate the movement of vehicles to dump garbage. This waste, loaded with pathogens, poses a serious health hazard to the residents of the area. Everyday, over 4,500 metric tons of garbage is dumped here from South Chennai. Garbage disposal

The Chennai Corporation's dump yard occupied 56 hectares in By 2007, it had taken over a sprawling 136 acres. It is currently undergoing further expansion. Expansion

45 Million Litres a day (MLD) of raw sewage from the surrounding localities is brought by the tanker load and is discharged directly into the marsh. This could cause irreversible damage to the ecosystem by depleting oxygen and throttling plant and animal life. Sewage

The future of Pallikarnai While leaving Pallikarnai, one is struck by the strong need for advocacy to publicise the issues that are prevalent in this area. If the government and people of Tamil Nadu are not sensitised to the multiple environmental issues playing out in the wetlands, it is hard to see how this diverse ecosystem will survive in the face of burgeoning construction and blatant environmental violations.