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Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission

Pichavaram Mangrove

Pichavaram mangrove spanning 1478 Ha, is located between two prominent estuaries, the Vellar estuary in the north and Coleroon estuary in the south of Cuddalore district. The Vellar-Coleroon estuarine complex forms the Killai backwater and Pichavaram mangroves. The backwaters are interconnected by the Vellar and Coleroon river systems and offer abundant scope for water sports such as rowing, kayaking, and canoeing. The Pichavaram forest not only offers waterscape and backwater cruises but also another very rare sight ? the mangrove forest trees are permanently rooted in a few feet of water. Like other mangrove wetlands in India, Pichavaram mangroves support unique diversity of flora and fauna. The mangrove ecosystem acts as a bio-shield during natural disasters, holds and stabilizes shorelines, retards erosion and acts as a buffer zone between land and sea, and helps in adaptation to climate change. According to Biogeographic classification of India, Pichavaram mangroves fall under the Coastal Region of India that encompasses sandy beaches, mud flats, coral reefs, mangroves constituting 2.5% of the total geographical area. It is one of the largest mangrove ecosystems in India. It communicates with the sea by a shallow passage which is the only opening in the sandy littoral stand. There are numerous channels in the mangroves linked with the sea on one hand and the rivers Vellar, Caloroon, and Uppanar on the other hand. The mangrove cover in Pichavaram can be grouped with coastal forests of Cuddalore Forest Division spread over 1478.642 ha. Due to the diversity of habitats, the vegetation of the Pichavaram Mangrove Forest is equally diverse, ranging from Dry Evergreen Forests, mangrove vegetation, and salt marsh

Salient Features

Acts as a bio-shield during natural disasters, holds and stabilizes shorelines, retards erosion and acts as a buffer zone between land and sea, Enhances the fishery production of the area thus supporting the livelihoods of about 1000 families, Listed as international bird and biodiversity area with iba site code : in-tn-38, by bird life international

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Location Cuddalore
Area 1478.64 hectares
Wetland Type Marine or coastal wetland - Intertidal forested wetland / Mangrove
Date of Designation 08-04-2022
Ramsar Site No. 2482

Values and Benefits

  • Regulating Services
  • Hazard reduction
  • Erosion protection
  • Provisioning Services
  • Food for humans
  • Fresh water
  • Cultural Services
  • Recreation and tourism
  • Spiritual and inspirational
  • Scientific and educational
  • Supporting Services
  • Biodiversity
  • Nutrient cycling

Threats

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

Ramsar Criteria

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Management Authority District Forest Office, Cuddalore Division
Protection Status Reserved Forest

Species of Global Conservation Significance

Notable Species: Spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), spoon billed sandpiper (Calidris pygmeus), and Asian Dowitcher ( Limnodromus semipalmatus), white-bellied sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), Brahminy Kite (Halias turindus )and osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

Endangered: 5
Vulnerable: 5

Species Count

Birds 115
Fishes 200
Plants 86
Mammals 16
Reptiles & Ambhibians 30
Arthropods 52

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