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

The Social Forestry Division of the Forest department has initiated discussions on designating Cherandathur Chira, popularly known as the rice bowl of Vadakara, as a community reserve.

A project report documenting the biodiversity features of the region will be prepared soon and submitted to the local administration and the Forest department authorities for further proceedings and approval.

80 bid species

Forest department officials said the proposed project aims at conserving nearly 600 acres of wetland in Maniyur grama panchayat that serves as a habitat for several migratory birds. A recent bird identification programme has recorded over 80 bid species, including several rare migratory ones, they said.

If local residents and administrators extend their support, a Haritha Samiti (green committee) will be formed with community participation to implement various conservation initiatives. With the community reserve status, priority will be given to promoting ecotourism projects and sustainable livelihood programmes in cooperation with the Union and State governments.

Integrated farming

Farmers now engaged in paddy cultivation are also expected to receive better support through integrated farming projects alongside wetland ecosystem conservation. Officials who were part of the initial discussions say the community reserve status will help effectively prevent illegal wetland reclamation activities.

Kadalundi-model project

“The Kadalundi community reserve will serve as our model for implementation. The project will be coordinated by the Vadakara range of the Social Forestry division,” said a senior Forest department officer. He said the cooperation of the newly elected local body members in the Maniyur panchayat would be crucial for realising the initiative.

A birdwatcher who participated in the recent identification programme in the area said the sighting of Common Pochard, a medium-sized diving duck facing extinction threats, had attracted State-level attention. Nearly 10 rare varieties of migratory ducks, including the Ferruginous duck and Eurasian wigeon, were also spotted in the area, he said.