An emerald isle losing sheen

 


Pathiramanal Island situated in the Vembanad Lake, which can easily acquire the status of a Ramsar Site is getting destroyed systematically due to fire mishaps and poor tourism management.
A visit to the island, where plastic bottles are strewn all over and trees get transformed into a heap of ashes, gives a dismal picture of the conservation standards of our rich bio wealth. Sadly enough, the key playesrs associated with it the State Government, the KTDC, Muhamma panchayat, the Forest Department, the eco-protection group and environmentalists are looking the other way.as part of the project, Pathiramanal Biodiversity conservation and biopark project, a team of scientist from the CESS conducted a survey and found out astonishing facts about the richness of the island biodiversity which we all have underestimated during the year. According to the CESS report, the Pathiramanal island, which is spread over an area of 75 acres of land in the Vembanad lake, is home to 88 species of birds, 58 species of fishes,  23 varieties of spiders and 34 species of butterflies. The plant diversity includes more than 185 species. An endangered aquatic mammal species Lutra Perspicillata adds to its mammal diversity apart from the presence of seven species of snskes. The report specifies that the two endangered mangrove species – Bruguiera Gymnorhiza and Soneratia- need proper protection. But many valuable trees were destroyed in the fire range from illicit hooch brewing to the mindless smoking by tourists.

(The New Indian Express, 17th February,2007)