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Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission

Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary

The Point Calimere is situated at the southern end of Nagappattinam District, Tamil Nadu, the Point Calimere region was first identified as an area of high significance in conservation of birds. As the monsoon recedes, the water gradually dries up and by the end of January most of the water in the forest and low lying areas becomes saline. The water dries up completely by the end of January, leaving behind hardpacked mud, which gradually turns into soft powdery dust as summer advances. The other habitat types include stretches of open grazing lands (ca 7 km2), especially at the southern and western portions, some mangrove vegetation bordering the Muniappan lake and near the lighthouse, and dune vegetation on the coast. The habitat varies seasonally in the eastern two-third part of the GVS. It is a continuous sheet of shallow, fresh/brackish/saline water (depending on the season) during the monsoon and during the period of the southwesterly winds (May and June). At other times, the waterspread area dries up gradually north to south up to a few kilometres, creating mudflats and shallow pools. he average rainfall ranges from 1000-1500 mm (Meher-Homji 1984). The highest temperatures (ca 34?C) are recorded in May, and the minimum (ca 25?C) in January and February. Humidity remains relatively high and constant throughout the year. A marked feature of the climate of this region is the strong southwesterly winds during May and June. The soil deposits are essentially of fluvial and alluvial origin, besides sand dunes. These alluvial deposits have risen to the ground level, thereby exposing the soil to inundation only during high tide.

Salient Features

The livelihood of around 35,000 fisher folk and agriculturalists are dependant on the wetland, Supports largest population of blackbuck (lc) in tamil nadu, Historically significant sites such as ramar padam, modimandapam, chola light house and avulaiganni dargah are found in the area, More than 1,00,000 migratory water birds regularly visits the site, Listed as international bird and biodiversity area with iba site code : in-tn-20, by bird life international and is part of central asian bird migratory flyway

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Location Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur
Area 38500 hectares
Wetland Type Marine or coastal wetlands, A: Permanent shallow marine waters, E: Sand, shingle or pebble shores, I: Intertidal forested wetlands, J: Coastal brackish / saline lagoons, G: Intertidal mud, sand or salt flats, Human-made wetlands, 5: Salt exploitation sites
Date of Designation 19-08-2002
Ramsar Site No. 1210

Values and Benefits

  • Provisioning Services
  • Wetland non-food products
  • Food for humans
  • Fresh water
  • Regulating Services
  • Hazard reduction
  • Erosion protection
  • Cultural Services
  • Recreation and tourism
  • Spiritual and inspirational

Threats

  • Biological resource use
  • Gathering terrestrial plants
  • Fishing and harvesting aquatic resources
  • Logging and wood harvesting
  • Hunting and collecting terrestrial animals
  • Invasive and other problematic species and genes
  • Invasive non-native/ alien species
  • Energy production and mining
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Agriculture & aquaculture
  • Livestock farming and ranching
  • Natural system modifications
  • Dams and water management/use
  • Vegetation clearance/ land conversion
  • Pollution
  • Industrial and military effluents
  • Household sewage
  • urban waste water
  • Agricultural and forestry effluents
  • Human settlements (non agricultural)
  • Housing and urban areas
  • Commercial and industrial areas
  • Water regulation
  • Salinisation

Ramsar Criteria

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Management Authority Tamil Nadu Forest Department
Protection Status Part notified as Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest

Species of Global Conservation Significance

Notable Species: Blackbuck, Spot-billed Pelican

Species Count

Birds 260
Fishes 70
Plants 300
Mammals 21
Reptiles & Ambhibians 42
Arthropods 81

Site Images