The Observations during the Field Visit to Pichavaram Mangroves
Pichavaram mangroves, located in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, is one of the largest mangrove areas in India, covering 1,478.64 hectares. A field trip, as part of the practical session for the Environmental Studies course, was organized by VSEP for the students of B.Sc. Economics (Honours with Research) on 28th January 2025. Coordinating this field trip with Dr. Teena Lakshmi was a rewarding experience. The students’ enthusiasm for hands-on learning and eagerness to understand the direct and indirect uses of ecosystem services, as outlined in the Environmental Studies syllabus, was truly commendable. The students observed various species of mangroves and their unique characteristics. They were surprised to learn that the villages behind the Pichavaram mangroves were protected from the tsunami in December 2004, while the adjacent coastal villages without mangrove cover were severely affected. It is commendable that the Forest Department has been planting mangrove saplings at regular intervals, particularly in the tsunami-affected villages. Significant growth of mangrove trees in these areas is now visible.
The livelihoods of more than a thousand families depend directly and indirectly on the Pichavaram mangroves, particularly through fisheries production and employment generation via tourism and related activities. The Forest Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu employs local people, especially from the tribal community, for conservation and maintenance activities. The dense biomass of mangroves, due to their effective carbon sequestration, was once the reason local people preferred mangroves for fuelwood extraction two decades ago. Thankfully, government policies on the provision of LPG as cooking fuel have been instrumental in drastically reducing the dependency on mangroves for fuelwood.
Recognizing the significance of biodiversity and the various regulating and supporting services of the Pichavaram mangroves, authorities declared the location a protected area in 1989. This designation prohibits resource extraction and encroachment, which could lead to environmental degradation. In 2022, the site was also designated as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
