tamilnadu Wetland

There are 42978 Nos. of wetlands in the state of Tamil Nadu of which 18924 no of wetlands are below 2.25 ha in extent as per the National Wetland Atlas published by the Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad.

A 2-phase project was approved by the State Planning Commission Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board (SPC-TNSLURB) for preparation of Brief Document on Wetlands. To achieve the target, SACON identified 141 prioritized wetlands among which, 80 were studied during the Phase I (November 2017 to April 2018) while 61 were studied during Phase II (May 2018 to October 2018). The project was funded by State Planning Commission (Phase I, an amount of Rs. 9,89,000/- and Phase II, an amount of Rs.9,89,000/-). The wetlands were selected based on the SACON ATLAS (Prasad et al., 2004), Scientific Literature, e-bird database and Google imagery. Their emphasis was to give a fair representation to all the 32 districts of Tamil Nadu. In the process they surveyed a maximum of 15 wetlands from Kanchipuram District while a minimum of two wetlands were documented from the Nilgiris district. Their rapid survey helped them to prepare the brief document

A total of 141 wetlands have been identified as prioritised wetlands in Tamil Nadu. Through funding received from the State Planning Commission, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) has completed the preparation of Brief Documents for 80 wetlands in Phase I and the task of preparation of Brief Documents for 61 wetlands in Phase II and the final report had been submitted. The ownership of these wetlands is as follows:

• The Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority has received a project titled “Economic valuation of Ecosystem services: A study of 80 wetlands in Tamil Nadu” for Rs.32,20,000/- funded by the State Planning Commission and duration of the project is 2 years. The project was started from 1st June 2019. The first instalment amount of Rs. 9,66,000/- have been released by the State Planning Commission. The payment of Rs. 7,24,500/- has been made through ECS to the Madras Institute of Development Studies(MIDS), Chennai.
• The Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority has also received another project titled “Delineation of Zone of Influence in three selected wetlands in Tamil Nadu” (Vadamaneri in Salem; Valathi in Villupuram and Tenneri Lake in Kancheepuram) for Rs. 10,00,000/- and duration of the study in one year funded by State Planning Commission. The first instalment amount of Rs. 4,00,000/-have been released by the State Planning Commission. Dr.Justus Joshua, Director & Principal Scientist., the Green Future Foundation, Tiruchirapalli is identified for the project and it is started from 1st October 2019

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has enlisted initiating restoration of 100 wetlands as part of transformative ideas within 100 days and have identified three wetlands in Tamil Nadu under this programme viz., Point Calimere, Pulicat and Pallikaranai
• The four nodal officers were appointed for preparation of brief documents, constitution of wetland Mitras and formulation of management action plans for four wetlands vide G.O.(Rt).No.692, Environment and Forests (FR.5) Department, Dated: 15.10.2019 as follows.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has proposed a workshop for preparation of Integrated Management plans for managers of these wetlands to be held on 20th December 2019 in MOEFCC, New Delhi.

Subsequently, the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has identified Koonthankulam is 4th wetland under the programme of 100 wetlands.

A workshop on “Conservation & Management of Wetlands” for Wetlands Managers & nodal officers of wetlands of Southern states likes (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana) was held on 6th and 7th January 2020 at Cochin, Kerala and they decided extended to 1000 Wetlands in 2nd phase.

At present two wetlands are being identified in each district and brief document and Wetland Health cards are being prepare.