Kollam: Lone mangrove forest awaits heritage status

Kollam: The kilometer-long mangrove forest alongside the Link road of the Ashtamudi Lake is the sole mangrove vegetation remaining in the city following various development activities carried out by various departments over the last few decades.

The call to declare the area a heritage site remains long-pending though the biodiversity board had sought the recommendation from the Kollam Corporation back in August 2012.

“The mangroves are a habitat for migratory birds and a major breeding ground for the fishes. It also helps prevent pollution that has grip-ped the Ashtamudi  lake due to industrialisation. Efforts to have the site declared as ‘heritage’ were initiated back in 2012,” Prof N. Ravi, taxonomist and environmental activist told DC.

The Biodiversity management committee in the district had forwarded a recommendation to the Biodiversity board through the Kollam corporation in October 2014. However, no action has been initiated by the board though KPCC President V.M. Sudheeran recently brought the issue before the environment ministry.

The water-gateway end of the Ashtamudi Lake has extensively depleted. The forest has now been narrowed down to the mere kilometer’s length and a width of 20 to 50 metres.