Bid to protect ‘Rice bowl of Vadakara’ as a community reserve

The Social Forestry Division of the Forest section has initiated discussions connected designating Cherandathur Chira, popularly known arsenic the atom vessel of Vadakara, arsenic a assemblage reserve.

A task study documenting the biodiversity features of the portion volition beryllium prepared soon and submitted to the section medication and the Forest section authorities for further proceedings and approval.

80 bid species

Forest section officials said the projected task aims astatine conserving astir 600 acres of wetland successful Maniyur grama panchayat that serves arsenic a situation for respective migratory birds. A caller vertebrate recognition programme has recorded implicit 80 bid species, including respective uncommon migratory ones, they said.

If section residents and administrators widen their support, a Haritha Samiti (green committee) volition beryllium formed with assemblage information to instrumentality assorted conservation initiatives. With the assemblage reserve status, precedence volition beryllium fixed to promoting ecotourism projects and sustainable livelihood programmes successful practice with the Union and State governments.

Integrated farming

Farmers present engaged successful paddy cultivation are besides expected to person amended enactment done integrated farming projects alongside wetland ecosystem conservation. Officials who were portion of the archetypal discussions accidental the assemblage reserve presumption volition assistance efficaciously forestall amerciable wetland reclamation activities.

Kadalundi-model project

“The Kadalundi assemblage reserve volition service arsenic our exemplary for implementation. The task volition beryllium coordinated by the Vadakara scope of the Social Forestry division,” said a elder Forest section officer. He said the practice of the recently elected section assemblage members successful the Maniyur panchayat would beryllium important for realising the initiative.

A birdwatcher who participated successful the caller recognition programme successful the country said the sighting of Common Pochard, a medium-sized diving duck facing extinction threats, had attracted State-level attention. Nearly 10 uncommon varieties of migratory ducks, including the Ferruginous duck and Eurasian wigeon, were besides spotted successful the area, helium said.