THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In establishing a mangrove theme park on the bank of the Valapattanam river in Kannur district, the Pappinisserri Eco Tourism Society has made significant changes in the landscape, says a report of the Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority.
The authority submitted this report to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on Wednesday. The report is based on a study conducted by a five-member team of experts constituted by the authority on directions from the Ministry.
The society had made “a number of interventions … including clearance of mangrove vegetation and erection of various structures, both temporary and permanent,” the report says. High- impact modifications are centred on an area of about 5,180 square metres.
The total area covered by different constructions is estimated to be about 6,580 sq. m.The report puts the damage at the specific location of the theme park in the context of large-scale disappearance of scarce and invaluable mangrove vegetation elsewhere along the State's coast from manmade alterations of the nature of the land for commercial purposes. The trend is quickening.
The report reiterates the observation of scientists deputed earlier by the Ministry that the park has violated the stipulations of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification.
“In assessing the impact of the activities undertaken in the Mangrove Theme Park, it is also important to consider the larger picture of destruction of the mangrove ecosystem in the vicinity of the park and beyond, in the district and the State …The Kannur district, accounting for about 85 per cent of the State's mangrove forests, is the last frontier of mangrove destruction. Visit to the area surrounding the Mangrove Theme Park indicates that what has happened in the theme park is the tip of the iceberg of mangrove destruction … real estate development, roads and other infrastructure, industrial development, shrimp farms and ill-conceived ecotourism initiatives are having a severe impact on the mangrove ecosystem,” the report notes.
“It was pointed out that, within three months of its operation, over 1,00,000 people visited the park, with an average daily visitor rate of over 1,000.”
Source:The Hindu, 13-8-2010
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