Photo: Dennis C J/ Research Matters
In a multidisciplinary approach to conservation, ecologists, economists, geographers, activists and individuals from various other fields have come together to value the ecological and economic services of the Aghanashini estuary.
The Aghanashini River in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district is one of the last undammed and pristine rivers on the west coast of Karnataka. The region surrounding the estuary boasts of various ecosystems including river, estuary, ocean, hills and dense mangroves that support rich biodiversity. The river also provides for close to 15,000 households who depend on it for food, water and other ecological services. Fisheries and bivalve collecting are still a major source of income for many households living here. The region also attracts many tourists from around the world who flock to the pleasant beaches in Gokarna, a nearby town.
In recent times, the threat of unsustainable development has threatened the riparian habitat. With aggressive push for development by the current government, livelihoods of many coastal communities in the region are threatened. An imminent threat to the region is a proposed industrial port that would displace many households and reduce the capacity of the ecosystems to provide goods and services. Much anthropological impairment such as sand mining, increased built-up area in the wetlands, over harvesting of resources, the current development projects would also have an adverse effect on local ecology and ecosystems. To conserve this unique environment and the livelihoods dependent on it, a multipronged effort from researchers and development planners is required.
On April 19th, College of Fisheries, Mangalore, in collaboration with the Bioclub at DR. AV Baliga College of Arts and Science, Kumta, conducted a workshop to assess the ecological and economic benefits of the Aghanashini estuary. The workshop was organized by Prof. Ramachandra Bhat, an Indian Council of Agricultural Research Emeritus Scientist. It saw participation from various researchers including Prof. Mahadev Bhat from Florida International University, Miami, Prof. Gopal Kadekodi, Hon. Professor at the Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Research, Dharwad, Dr. Subhash Chandran and Dr. Prakash Mestha of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at IISc, and Mr. Adam Jadhav, a former Fulbright scholar and research associate at Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation. Mr Ananth Hegde Ashisara, an environmentalist and former chairman of the Western Ghats Task Force was also present during the workshop.
The workshop was attended by around 50 participants representing ecological-economic experts, representatives of State Department of Forests, Fisheries and Agriculture, port, Education etc. Prof. Gopal Kadekodi, Hon. Professor, Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Research, Dharwad and former Director of the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru delivered inaugural address and he stressed how scarcity of ecosystem services create values by drawing the example of Kosi basin study. He suggested many methods for valuing such services such as substitution values, alternative costs of supplying the services and complimentarily of the services.
Prof. Mahadev Bhat Professor and Co-Director, Agro-Ecology Program, Florida International University, Miami US in his keynote address presented an economic-ecological model to explain how diversion of the Everglades’ a slow moving river in Florida for various industrial, drinking water and recreational activities has imposed a penalty on recreational fishers in terms of decline in fish production. His model, suggested how it is important to involve different expertise such as geographers, ecologists, economists in order to address the problem of optimising the river water use for maximization of net social benefits. Shri. Ananth Hegde Ashisar presented the actual threats faced by the communities around Aghanasini estuary and how the conservation of estuary is a development issue and not an environmental issue. Shri. Balachandra Hegde and Adam Jadhav, provided a comprehensive view of the ongoing studies and the work being carried out in the study area by various institutes. The study showed that without any financial investment by the state, the ecosystem services of Aghanashini estuary provide livelihood to 14,907 families (population of 66,074). Of these families about 1500 families depend on bivalve collection which is declining due to sand mining and other anthropogenic activities. The demographic changes within the coast are also a cause of concern with extension of the built-up area into coastal wetlands and marshy areas.
The workshop was aimed at increasing awareness about the growing threats to the estuary and to get a multidisciplinary approach to assess the economic value generated from the ecosystem services of the region. “An individual researcher or environmentalist will have difficulty in solving all the issues, but with a multidisciplinary approach, the solution becomes a little easier” says Dr. Subhash chandran.
Although the river and the estuary still remain relatively untouched, the urge for economic development may pose a grave threat in the near future. A conservation effort requires more than just an understanding of the physical and ecological processes of the region. It also involves activism and participation of the local communities. However, for local communities to be involved, the research needs to leave the corridors of institutions and reach the populace. “Currently there is a lack of awareness of the ecological importance of the estuary. We want to change that and the workshop certainly helps with that goal. But this is just the beginning,” signs off Prof. Ramachandra Bhat.
About the Resource Persons:
1. Prof. Ramachandra Bhat is the ICAR Emeritus Scientist, College of Fisheries, Mangalore. Contact: rcbhat@gmail.com
2. Prof. Gopal Kadekodi, Hon. Professor, Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Research, Dharwad Contact: gkkadekodi@hotmail.com
3. Prof. Mahadev G. Bhat, Professor of Natural Resource Economics and Co-Director, Agro-Ecology Program, Florida Int. University, Miami USA bhatm@fiu.edu
4. Dr. M D Subhash Chandran Professor, Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc, Bengaluru.
Contact: mds@ces.iisc.ernet.in
5. Mr. Balachandra Hegde, Hon. Wildlife Warden, Uttara Kannada, and Research Associate
Contact:
6. Dr. Prakash Mesta is a researcher at the Energy and Wetlands Research Group at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc.
Contact: prakash_honavar@ces.iisc.ernet.in
7. Mr. Adam Jadhav, Fulbright Fellow and Researcher with Panchabhuta Foundation, Kagal, Kumta Contact: ajadhav@gmail.com