Rain Forests - Our Saviors

In this post under GREEN HERITAGE we explore the biodiversity of Rain Forests of Western Ghats with special reference to Sharavathi river valley.

To live a responsible life on our planet, we need to learn to love our mother- the Mother Earth.World Environment Day is observed every year on 5^th June to stimulate a worldwide awareness of environment. This is our humble attempt to make our readers sensible and sensitive towards the planet they live. Our focus will be on one of the top ten biodiversity hotspots of the world, tropical rain forests of Sharavathi River Valley.

Western Ghats with rain forests, deep valleys and rivers

Tropical Rain Forests are the oldest ecosystems on this earth. Is it not amazing that although rain forests cover only around 6% of the earth, they account for 50% of the plants and animals found? The name itself suggests, these forests receive more than 2500 mm of rainfall throughout the year. Rain Forests contain four layers. The Emergent layer- that holds very big trees of about 200 feet tall with trunks measuring up to 16 feet in width and plenty of sunshine, the Canopy Layer- that possesses wide spread branches with lots of leaves creating a canopy sheltering many animal and bird species, the Understory Layer- that holds short trees with larger leaves and receive less sunshine sheltering wild animals, the Forest Floor Layer- that is dark and has a few plants sheltering wild animals.

Evergreen Tropical Rain Forests in Western Ghats 

Do we have anything to do with tallest trees, variety of animals and plant species of rain forests? Why should we bother about them? You may not have put lot of thought and consideration for the rain forests! Perhaps you should and you will!! Do you know they stabilize world climate, maintain water cycle, protect environment against soil erosion, floods and droughts, possess plenty of medicinal plants, they are the absorbers of carbon dioxide and suppliers of oxygen, they are the ancient most ecosystems on earth which have evolutionary links?
The rain forests of Western Ghats have extraordinary biological heritage which makes them one of the top most priorities for international conservation efforts. They are known for exceptional endemic species of flora and fauna, 38 east flowing and 37 west flowing river systems, 288 species of fresh water fishes of which 118 are endemic. Fresh water river systems are the most diverse and the richest ecosystems in the world. Among the west flowing rivers of Western Ghats, a few have been exploited for power generation, irrigation and fisheries. The Sharavathi, probably, is one the earliest rivers exploited.

Endangered and Endemic fauna of Western Ghats 

The Sharavathi river valley is nestled in the Western Ghats region of Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga Districts. The river rises at Ambuthirtha, flows towards the west and  joins the Arabian Sea at Honnavar. The valley comprises of many endangered ecosystems like Myristica Swamps, endangered tree Semecarpus kattalekanensis, unique flora like Gymnacranthera canarica (a wild plant species endemic to Western Ghats) and interesting fauna like Lion-tailed Macaque and Kumbara Frog. The vegetation ranges from evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, shrubs to grasslands. Kattalekanu area makes Sharavathi basin a more ecologically sensitive and fragile region. The valley is the home for endangered species like Grey Headed Bulbul, Great Indian Hornbill, the endemic Black necked Stork and many more. It harbors thousands of flowering and medicinal plants. Sharavathi is termed as “Bhageerathi of Karnataka”.

                                   

Myristica swamps, endemic to Western Ghats

In the name of development Sharavathi has been exploited. Dam construction is one of them. The river has witnessed series of alterations post independence. There are three major dams built across Sharavathi- Linganamakki, Talakalale and Gerusoppa. Gerusoppa dam, known as Sharavathi Tail Race Project, is the latest hydro-electric power project commissioned in 2001. It is built at the tail end of other dams just before Sharavathi joins the Arabian Sea, hence the name. This reservoir submerged approximately 700 hectares of ever green rain forests in the valley. Submergence of evergreen rain forests in the valley is pushing the unique flora and fauna towards extinction. Do you think hydro power is renewable energy source? Not really in the strict sense of the term. It is, indeed, unclean energy in terms of polluting the climate with methane emissions. You will be shocked to know that hydro power stations account for 4% of manmade carbon emissions globally- equivalent to the world’s airline traffic combined!!

Sharavathi  River Valley

Obstruction to free flowing Sharavathi has resulted in poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir, resulting in rocky beds and poor habitats for aquatic life. Dams have fragmented the river making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate. The volume of water in the Sharavathi from the Gerusoppa dam down to Honnavar where it confluences with sea is very less. This has resulted in the reduction of nutrients reaching the sea affecting marine productivity and biodiversity. Rain forest fragmentation due to the dam, road constructions as well as farming activities has a severe effect on large trees. The life span of big trees can reduce as much as by 40% as their crowns are exposed to intense sunlight and evaporation. The elephant migratory path near Ambepalgudda is obstructed due to reservoir.Lack of scientific study of the river system, its flow, nutrition content, forethought of after effects of dam construction, lack of political will, lack of expertise to look squarely at the problem, ignoring ‘river health’- all these are responsible for taking wrong decisions.

Top photo: Catchment  area after the Tail Race dam construction. Bottom photo: Reduced flow of Sharavathi from dam down the line till confluence at Honnavar.

Do you think that resources are free gifts of nature as is assumed by many? If ‘yes’, then you are absolutely wrong! By thinking so, we are claiming our absolute rights over the earth. We share this earth with millions of other living beings. We are just a part of this complex web of ecological system. There is enough in nature to satisfy our needs, but not for our greed! In every sense, standing rain forests bring more wealth than if they are cleared.

The need of the hour is not only to educate people but also to involve them in conservation work. People’s management is essential in ecological restoration. Academic research and knowledge should get translated into action. Let us not clog the arteries of the planet in the name of development. Let us not forget we are very much dependent on nature for our own existence.

 

Let us be more sensitive and sensible towards our forest wealth.

It is worth recalling the  interview of Maneka Gandhi, published in Times of India on 14^th August, 1990, when she was the Minister of State for Environment and Forests. She referred to Tail Race dam across the Sharavathi river and it was told to her that the submerging land was barren. Later she started getting complaints of animal attacks on humans. Wondering how could there be wild animals in a barren land, she sent an honest officer for investigation and came to know that, in fact the land was evergreen rain forest. And the greedy contractors, supported by bureaucrats, would cut all the trees as the land was on paper supposed to be ‘barren’. 

http://www.devalt.org/newsletter/nov94/lead.htm

    “The tree is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence and makes no demand for sustenance, and extends generously the products of its life activity. It affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axe men who destroy it”---          Goutama Buddha ( 487 B.C.)