News Excerpt: 

Concerns loom over damage to Pulicat wetland as claim settlement of villages in the sanctuary begins.

More about News:

• Initiation of settlement of claims for local communities residing within Pulicat Birds Sanctuary boundary limits has raised concerns over the shrinking of the sanctuary's eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).
• The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management has done a study of the wetland, and the ESZ will be marked based on its zone of influence.
• The State government plans to denotify a sizable area of the sanctuary. 
• During the 77th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife held in January 2024, 
• A proposal for the use of 215.83 hectares of non-forest land for the development of an industrial park inside the eco-sensitive zone and 5 km from the bird sanctuary.
• The process of rationalizing the sanctuary's boundaries has begun, with the settlement of claims being the first step towards denotifying the sanctuary.
• Chief Wildlife said that once that was done and the final notification was released, 
• The current 10 km buffer would not exist.
•  The ESZ would be declared based on the sanctuary boundary.

Significance of Pulicat Lake:

• Pulicat is a biodiversity hotspot that hosts around 250 species of birds, 50 of which are intercontinental species.
• Pulicat lagoon is unique in its vulnerability to shoreline dynamics and the presence of more mangrove plantations in the ESZ rather than in the Sanctuary area. 
• • • Over one lakh people depend on it for livelihood and identity. 
    • Its importance to wildlife and role in Central Asian Flyway for birds.

• The Pulicat barrier island and associated sand systems act as critical cyclonic buffers and barricades against tidal and storm surges.
  • It also acts as a climate buffer for the city, as the lagoon-wetland complex acts as a massive flood water catchment when cyclones hit the coast.
• Pulicat is one of the very few sites that are both historically and ecologically significant. It is one of the few landscapes where the local's water use is extremely knowledge-driven. It is used for agriculture, marine fishing and inland fishing.

Key concerns over Pulicat Lake:

• Shrinking of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) due to the proposed denotification of a sizable area of the Pulicat Birds Sanctuary.
• Potential detrimental impact of industrial expansion projects on the already damaged Pulicat ecosystem.

Conclusion:

It's crucial to prioritise the conservation of Pulicat Lake's unique ecosystem and the well-being of its wildlife and human inhabitants. Balancing economic development with environmental preservation is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of this ecologically significant area.