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 5th
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.
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Western Ghats with rain forests, deep valleys and rivers
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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.
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Evergreen Tropical Rain Forests in Western Ghats
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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.
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Endangered and Endemic fauna of Western Ghats
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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”.
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Myristica swamps, endemic to Western Ghats
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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!!
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Sharavathi River Valley
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Let us be more sensitive and sensible towards our forest wealth.
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It is worth recalling the interview of Maneka Gandhi, published in Times
of India on 14th 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’.
“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.)
