Pallikaranai Marsh

Two more places from Tamil Nadu have been accorded recognition as Ramsar sites.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ramsar Sites Secretariat accepted two more places from Tamil Nadu as Ramsar sites. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest in The Nilgiris and the Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary in Ariyalur were designated Ramsar recognition on January 31, based on the proposals submitted by the State Government.
With a total of sixteen Ramsar sites, Tamil Nadu continues to retain its position as the State with highest number of such sites in India.

Longwood Shola is unique in that it is in the highlands and home to nearly 170 types of birds as well as much flora. This shola is a critical factor in balancing the fragile ecosystem of the Nilgiris.

Karaivetti birds sanctuary is one of the largest inland freshwater lakes in Tamil Nadu and is an important resting and foraging ground for birds migrating along the Central Asian Flyway.

Observing World Wetlands Day on 2 February, 2024

This year, the UN theme for World Wetlands Day is “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing”. This theme aims to highlight that the physical, mental and environmental aspects of human wellbeing are directly proportional to maintaining robust, healthy wetlands across the globe.

Pallikaranai Marsh, in Chennai, a wetland with Ramsar site tag, is one among the 94 prioritised wetlands in India, also classified by National Wetland Conservation and Management Programme (NWCMP) by the Government of India.

Reports clearly showcase the size shrink in the Pallikaranai marshland every decade due to encroachment and also because of lack of awareness among the common masses on the importance of preserving these marshlands.

On this occasion, let us join hands to preserve the wetlands that are home to more than 625 animal and plant species.

A few nit bits on how Wetlands contribute to Human Wellbeing:

- About 1 in 8 people make their livelihoods from wetlands, in various ways that also deliver food, water supplies, transport and leisure.
- Wetland landscapes positively impact mental wellbeing.
- Wetlands safeguard 60% of humanity along coastlines against storm surges, hurricanes, floods and tsunamis.

Let’s Revive & Restore our precious Wetlands!

World Migratory Bird Day is a globally recognized event celebrated annually on the second Saturday of May and October. This year, the theme for World Migratory Bird Day 2023 is "Water: Sustaining Bird Life."

The theme highlights the critical role of water in supporting the life cycle of migratory birds. Migratory birds depend on a variety of water bodies such as wetlands, lakes, rivers, and oceans for breeding, feeding, and resting during their long-distance journeys. However, water resources are under severe stress due to climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and overexploitation.

To ensure the survival of migratory birds, it is essential to conserve and restore the quality and quantity of water resources. This can be achieved by adopting sustainable water management practices, such as reducing water consumption, protecting wetlands, restoring river ecosystems, and promoting nature-based solutions.

World Migratory Bird Day 2023 provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of water for migratory birds and the urgent need for collective action to protect their habitats. It also serves as a call to action for governments, civil society organizations, and individuals to work together toward achieving sustainable water management and conserving migratory bird populations.

Every year, in May and October, World Migrating Bird Days (WMBD) are celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of protecting migrating bird habitats. All over the world, the campaign organizes public events such as bird festivals, education sessions, exhibitions, and bird-watching trips.
As the season comes to an end soon, please mark World Migratory Day 13th May 2023 on your calendars. Visit Pallikaranai Marshland and Eco-Park before the birds fly back to their breeding grounds far away. Again, as the new season starts, 14th October 2023 will be the second World Migratory Day.
The Theme for 2023 is "Water: Supporting Bird Life", which drives attention to the importance of water and its importance for migratory birds to survive.

2023 World Migration Day Campaign Poster:
The artwork for the 2023 World Migratory Bird Campaign has been launched recently. It was created by Augusto Silva, a Nicaraguan artist renowned for his colorful murals depicting life and nature.
The poster features twelve different bird species that help to illustrate the importance of water to migratory birds. Migratory birds require various types of water-based habitats for survival, including marsh, tidal flats, mangrove forests, coastal areas, and seasonally flooded farms. These water bodies are essential as they also preserve various life forms which perpetuate the natural cycles that allow them to exist, that is, insects, small creatures, plants, or nectar availability to feed on.
Unfortunately, human-caused pollution, climate change, and increased water demand have endangered many of the watersheds that migrating birds rely on for survival. Pallikaranai and surrounding wetlands continue to face such issues, yet they are the preferred winter locations for various migratory birds year after year.

The Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) is a migratory bird species that can be found in the Pallikaranai Marshland in Tamil Nadu, India. These birds are part of the family Motacillidae and are characterized by their bright yellow coloration on their underparts and vent region, contrasting with their grayish-green upper parts. They have a slender bodies, long tails, and thin pointed beaks, which they use to catch insects and other small invertebrates.

During the breeding season, Citrine Wagtails can be found in northern parts of Europe and Asia, where they nest in wetlands and marshy areas. As the breeding season ends, they migrate southward to wintering grounds in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In the Pallikaranai Marshland, they can be seen from August to April, with their arrival coinciding with the onset of the monsoon season.

The Pallikaranai Marshland, located in the city of Chennai, is an important habitat for many migratory bird species, including the Citrine Wagtail. However, the marshland is threatened by urbanization and pollution, which has led to a decline in the bird population. Conservation efforts are underway to protect the marshland and its diverse birdlife, including the Citrine Wagtail.

2.24 billion tons is the municipal solid waste generated by us, humans, annually.
931 milllion tons of food is lost or wasted, annually.
14 million tons of plastic waste reach the aquatic ecosystems, annually.

Waste not only pollutes but also contributes to climate change and biodiversity loss.
Did you know that, this year, there has been significantly less migratory birds coming into the Indian peninsula?
The indiscriminate dumping of industrial waste, construction debris, and municipal garbage everywhere has been a severe concern for the wetlands of Tamil Nadu.
Pallikarani Marshland, one of the primary victims, has contracted to just one tenth of its earlier area, over the last 40 year. This wetland is now a Ramsar site of International importance.
The United Nations Environment Programme celebrated the first International Day of Zero Waste, recently, on 30th March 2023. With a motto of Refuse, Reduce, Redesign, Reuse and Recycle, UNEP focuses to raise awareness of this serious threat for future generations and to work towards a Zero Waste future. Waste as little as each of us can and keep them out of landfills, incinerators and the oceans.
Let each of us do our part to reduce waste. Save Pallikaranai Marshland as well as all other wetlands. Save Mother Earth.

International Day of Forests is celebrated every year on March 21st to raise awareness about the importance of forests for the environment, the economy, and human well-being.

The theme for 2023 is "Forests and Health", to highlight the vital role that forests play in promoting human health and well-being, both physically and mentally, and how we can return these favors towards a better bonding between the Forest, Human Health, and Nutrition.

Forests cover one-third of the Earth’s landmass providing vast ecological and health benefits including fresh air, clean water, fighting climate change, and sustaining several thousands of species of vegetation and creatures. They are the sources of various materials and food; also at least 50000 plants are sources of traditional medicines to treat a variety of ailments over several thousand years.

Yet, this most valuable forest cover is depleting very fast; 10 million hectares are destroyed annually, caused by deforestation, forest fires, climate change, and unsustainable forestry practices.

The government of Tamil Nadu, India, is working towards increasing the forest and tree cover of the State from 23.9 percent to 33 percent by 2031. This is part of the State’s three-pronged climate action plan, namely Climate Change, Biodiversity Conservation, and Greening and Wetlands.

Use the hashtags or to share your thoughts and connect with others who are passionate about preserving the world's forests and promoting human health and well-being.

Come, let us work together to protect and preserve these vital ecosystems.

The Redshank is a migratory bird species that can be found in the Pallikaranai Marshland every year from August till April of the next year. This bird is a medium-sized wader with long, bright orange-red legs and a straight, medium-length bill with orange-red color at the base. The Redshank has a striking plumage, with a dark brown back and white underparts.
During the winter months, Redshanks migrate to the South Indian marshlands from their breeding grounds in far-off areas of Tundra and Siberia in Europe and Asia. They can be found in the shallow waters of the marshland, feeding on a variety of insects and small invertebrates such as worms, mollusks, and crustaceans.
Redshank tagged by the Bombay Natural History Society in Navi Mumbai in 2020 was traced 5100 kilometers away in Altai, Russia in April 2022.
They usually forage for prey as groups moving together in unison but are also territorial birds aggressively defending their nesting sites during the breeding season.
Redshanks are known as the ‘sentinels of the marshes’ because of their distinctive, very loud call, a "tew tew" sound that speeds up into a high pitch, quickly repeated call when alarmed. They are usually the first creatures to raise an alarm and fly off when there is any threat.

Image 1 credit: Athul Sekhar, a young HR professional, and avid nature photographer.

Water contamination is highly perilous yet, it is the most prevalent type of pollution in India. The circumstance is outrageous to such an extent that the term 'Cooum' invokes pictures of a dirty, smelly water body to Chennaiyites. The pollution of the Cooum river has been at the forefront of all discussions to improve living in this city. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the Cooum River is one of India's most polluted rivers. Other water bodies in Chennai, such as the Adyar and Kosasthalaiyar rivers and the Buckingham canal, have a similar condition as the Cooum. These rivers have been declared "dead," implying that no living species can thrive in this contaminated water. Many attempts and large fund allocations for cleanup projects have been made over the years, but progress has been slow.

The Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) is now serious about plans to restore the city waterways. CRRT, in collaboration with other agencies, has taken steps to make the rivers more sustainable by planting native plant species, dredging of waste, fencing, installing sewage pumping stations and treatment plants, treating stormwater drain water before releasing it into the rivers relocating encroachments and several such steps to making the waters habitable.

Yet, it is not the responsibility of only our government; we as citizens owe it to ourselves to create a pollution-free environment.

On this day, let's pledge to keep our rivers clean, sustainable, and protected as they are the source of our survival.