Community Reserve
(Soubadra Devy, R. Ganesan, T. Kannan, T. Ganesh, M. Mathivanan)
It is two years since the discovery of the Vaagikulum heronry by the ATREE field team. The heronry attracts over 10,000 birds of 87 species. The tank bed has a small stand of Acacia nilotica, a greater portion of which has been cut. Enormous efforts have gone into seeking the attention of the Forest Department, District Administration and media, besides building local stewardship. We have been discussing the idea of having Vaagaikulum declared as a Community Reserve (CR) with various stakeholders. Located in an agriculture landscape, there is heavy dependence on the wetland and it is only fair that it be set aside as a CR under the 2003 amendment of WPA. This could serve as a unique example of a community managing a reserve.
The birds use the tank only during the months of November to March when there is water and is seldom accessed by the community during this period. The wetland does not entail any major management except for leaving the remaining trees uncut. This enables people access to the wetland, and birds to their nesting and roosting trees, in a mutually exclusive manner.
There is overwhelming support from the community, except for a few voices of dissent arising from the contractor and a few of his accomplices in the village. According to a forest official, the cost of the remaining trees in the tank is negligible. The contractor has now indulged in negative propaganda, coming with absurd reasons of how bird guano could affect crops and the trees touch electric wires resulting in short circuits. To demonstrate the benefits, we now have students who are examining nutrient enrichment through bird guano. Solutions for insulating the wires have also been suggested.
Many in the village see the CR as having potential for eco-tourism, with income coming in to the Panchayat, and an opportunity to demand for a bridge over a river that links the village to the nearest town. In the last two months ATREE has facilitated the visit of the Conservator of Forests and the Deputy Collector of Tirunelveli. Following this, the collector has suspended cutting of trees, though this is only a temporary solution. The Tamil Nadu Assembly speaker, who is the sitting MLA of the area has also been apprised. Letters have also been dispatched to the Forest Secretary and PCCF of Tamil Nadu. The Panchayat had passed a resolution in support and some educated members in the villages have sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Declaring Vaagikulum a CR, particularly in this year of biodiversity, can be very special.