• Summary
  • Objectives
  • Status
  • Project Publications
  • Gallery
Summary

The first phase of activities under the Post Tsunami Environment Initiative (PTEI) formed post the December 26, 2004, tsunami by the UNTRS/UNDP identified serval issue of concern along the fragile coastal habitats. The need to assess the short and long-term environmental impacts and their effect on coastal communities, was recognised. The consequences of the rehabilitation efforts themselves on the natural resilience of ecological and social systems were questioned. This was even more imperative given that coastal landscapes have remained poorly understood. Despite the diversity of terrestrial and aquatic habitats along the coast, there have been very few studies on them, and there was an acute deficiency of baselines and reliable information about their status, resources, extent and the dependence of local communities on these. Additionally, these habitats have been under tremendous anthropogenic pressure in the last few decades.

The PTEI aimed to identify the many issues that were influencing the coastline and establish a preliminary level understanding of the ecological and sociological impacts, while identifying the information gaps on marine and coastal systems. As the programme developed, these issues were also analysed in the context of rapid coastal development, increasing resource needs and changing legislative mechanisms.

This project was jointly implemented by FERAL, NCF, and ATREE.

Objectives

1. To conduct studies in coastal vulnerability at a spatial level.
2. A spatial analysis of land use change and social change on the Coromandel coast of India over the last three decades.
3. To identify sites for pilot restoration using and extending PTEI Phase I results; coastal sand dunes, mangroves and tropical dry evergreen forest habitats were covered.
4. To mobilise local stakeholders and build local capacities at selected restoration sites.
5. To mobilise institutional support and financial sustainability of the work through linkages with local and district authorities
6. To set up pilot demonstrations sites for restoration of native coastal habitats.

Status

This is among the first efforts to collate and analyse information in a spatial framework that encompasses long term changes in coastal land use and consequent impacts on the vulnerability of communities and native habitats. This is also among the few attempts to document and build comprehensive restoration strategies for these habitats and involves partnerships with local communities, institutions and other agencies in the region.

Among the salient achievements of the project were:

  • Documentation of the impact of the tsunami on coastal communities and ecosystems, including the collation of available literature and publicly accessible datasets.
  • Documentation of land-use changes that have occurred on the East coast of India over the past three decades and their implications for coastal vulnerabilities.
  • A critical look at the role of bio-shields in mitigating the tsunami and weather-related disturbance events, which includes a review and critique of available literature.
  • Identification of representative habitats along the Coromandel coast using imageries and following up with extensive field visits and ecological assessments of their status.
  • Sites selected for restoration satisfied a number of criteria including willingness of local communities to participate and contribute to their restoration and continued protection.
  • Restoration techniques were both low cost and low on maintenance.
  • Planting native species of vegetation in suitable and protected locations.
  • Community mobilisation involved a series of awareness generation activities followed by negotiations and micro level planning of restoration activities.
  • Formation of eco-restoration committees which comprised of representatives from various groups in the village including the elected Panchayat, representatives of women self-help groups, traditional Panchayats and temple authorities in the case of sacred groves.
  • Administrative arrangements between the implementers and various organisations were designed to ensure there was transparency and accountability at all stages of implementation.
  • Our learning emphasise the need for multidisciplinary approaches. The ability to use participatory tools and community organisation in conjunction with remote sensing, GIS, specialised nursery techniques and ecological assessments was a major strength of the project.