THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The coastal belt of Kerala, along with island groups like Lakshadweep and Maldives, will become vulnerable to rise in sea level caused by climate change, former Executive Director of the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), E.J. James, said here on Tuesday. He was speaking on the topic ‘Caring for Wetlands: An answer to Climate Change’ at a seminar organised by the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) and CWRDM to mark the World Wetlands Day.
Wetland’s import
“Wetland conservation and climate change are closely linked. The disappearance of wetlands in Kerala, especially coastal wetlands, will lead to climate change, which will in turn lead to temperature rise and submersion due to rise in sea level. The intensification of hydrological cycle caused by temperature rise will lead to the dangerous scenarios of intermittent floods and droughts,” Mr. James said. He said that disappearance of wetlands would also lead to salinity intrusion into rivers, extinction of a number of species and adverse impact on biodiversity and aqua tourism. Mr. James said that though the three wetlands in Kerala, Shasthamcotta, Ashtamudi and Vembanad, have been declared as internationally important under the Ramsar convention, no significant action had taken so far to protect them.
More serious issue
CSIR emeritus scientist Jose Kallarackal said that the disappearance of wetlands was a more serious issue in Kerala than climate change. “In the past 60 years, the total area of wetlands in our State has been reduced to one fourth,” he said. Poet and environmental activist Sugathakumari exhorted the scientific community to fight strongly for the cause of wetland conservation and environment. “The scientific community should be able to guide the government authorities and tell them boldly if a project will adversely affect the environment,” she said.
Source: the Hindu, Dated: 4.02.2010
Wetland’s import
“Wetland conservation and climate change are closely linked. The disappearance of wetlands in Kerala, especially coastal wetlands, will lead to climate change, which will in turn lead to temperature rise and submersion due to rise in sea level. The intensification of hydrological cycle caused by temperature rise will lead to the dangerous scenarios of intermittent floods and droughts,” Mr. James said. He said that disappearance of wetlands would also lead to salinity intrusion into rivers, extinction of a number of species and adverse impact on biodiversity and aqua tourism. Mr. James said that though the three wetlands in Kerala, Shasthamcotta, Ashtamudi and Vembanad, have been declared as internationally important under the Ramsar convention, no significant action had taken so far to protect them.
More serious issue
CSIR emeritus scientist Jose Kallarackal said that the disappearance of wetlands was a more serious issue in Kerala than climate change. “In the past 60 years, the total area of wetlands in our State has been reduced to one fourth,” he said. Poet and environmental activist Sugathakumari exhorted the scientific community to fight strongly for the cause of wetland conservation and environment. “The scientific community should be able to guide the government authorities and tell them boldly if a project will adversely affect the environment,” she said.
Source: the Hindu, Dated: 4.02.2010
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