10QUESTIONS :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::DR KASTURI DESAI ONCE SAND-DUNES ARE DAMAGED, AND A CONCRETE JUNGLE COMES, WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Ponda Educational Society College (Farmagudi) botany lecturer Dr Kasturi Desai is a familiar figure to those involved in environmental issues in Goa. Says she: "I am convinced that my prime work as a teacher is to bring awareness about different aspects of nature and natural resources to different section of public besides school and college students." Desai, incidentally of Bengali origins but a daughter-in-law of Goa, has done more for Goa's environment than many Goans. She has been vocal against plastic littering, and started a strong movement against plastic carry-bags with the help of the citizens of Ponda since 1991. Recently, she authored a large-size well-illustrated 109 page book 'Sand Dune Vegetation of Goa: Conservation and Management'. In an interview with Frederick Noronha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dr Desai <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> explains why sand-dunes are far more useful than their images connote -- vast amounts of shifting sand, barren to plants and hostile to human inhabitants. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do Goans understand the importance of sand-dunes yet, in your view? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a very little awareness about the importance of sand dunes. Only a few scientists and activists are talking about coastal dunes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are the mainly under-appreciated utilities of sand-dunes? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dune system is a fragile ecosystem which act as barriers to storms and waves. If this ecosystem is not protected the sea enters the land, causing erosion of the coast. Moreover, if not protected by the vegetation the inland desertification increase. It maintains the ground water level. Valuable constructions get damaged in due course of time due to erosion of land. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Which other states in the rest of the country have a better (compared to Goa) understanding of sand-dunes? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As such the study of sand dunes was never taken up earlier in any states of India. Only in 1991 sand dunes were included in CRZ I (coastal regulation zone-I, which offers environmental protection). Of course isolated studies were done by Dr. T. Anand Rao and others on the entire coast of India. Some studies were done by Dr.Arvind G. Untawale from N.I.O. But it was only of academic interest. Now some of the coastal universities are taking up studies on the sand dune ecosystem but much work has to be done. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- What, if anything, made this work difficult and challenging? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This work is the first of its kind in the entire country wherein information about sand dunes all over the world, their classification, characteristic features, locations, plants growing on them, their flowering and fruiting time, nursery techniques have been included. This information is surely going to be useful to general public, academicians, non-governmental and governmental organisations. Different methods of conservation and management techniques undertaken in different parts of the world have also been included. There is an extensive literature survey on the coastal sand dunes. The appendix includes several India and foreign laws and regulation. Recommendations of a seminar on the 'significance of coastal sand dune vegetation' are also included. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Which villages in Goa still have the best sand-dunes remaining? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Galgibag (in Canacona), a part of Varca (Salcete), Mandrem and Keri (Pernem) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In which areas of Goa have the sand-dunes got really destroyed? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stretches between Cansaulim to Cavelossim, except isolated small patches, Baina, Anjuna, Calangute, and Baga. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- What were your most interesting or unusual experiences while putting together this book? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- During my visits to different beaches when I went to Mandrem, I was astonished to find such a virgin area still exists in Goa. It is also surprising that even local people never gave any importance to this ecosystem, though unknowingly their houses were well behind the dunes except in Pollem where the village almost on the beach. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It appears that more the legislation over the sand-dunes, the more the destruction we're seeing. On the other hand, when there was little or no regulation, there was no damage either. Why is this so? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Decisions making with regard to natural resources is left to bureaucracy and politicians. The local community is in the dark about the decicisions taken in the name of development. With greater emphasis on starred tourism beaches have become easy target in the last three decades. It was only in 1991 that regulations came in the wake of the realization about the significance of this ecosystem. But the speed of so called development and activities had already damaged the system. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why did you choose this subject and how did you first get involved? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 1987-88 I approached (National Institute of Oceanography, Goa scientist) Dr. Aravind G. Untawale for working under him for my Ph.D.He asked me to take up the study of sanddune vegetation. I realized that this field was totally virgin and working on them would be very challanging. I also found this ecosystem was totally neglected and scientific study is necessary as Goa has a long beautiful coastline. So, in 1989, I started the study by visiting all the beaches of Goa. After completing my thesis in 1996, I found that my contribution was just limited for a doctoral degree and hence to bring awareness I had to work towards a book. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- You say the damage of sandunes on the Bardez coast is "beyond repair. Could you elaborate? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bardez Taluka was first to get hotels on the beaches. Once the dunes are damaged and there is all concrete jungle on the beach itself what can be done? Can you demand for demolition of the large establishments? Moreover, at places like Calangute, even the plantation of Casuarina trees were at faulty areas which damaged the fore and mid-dunes. And if these primary dunes are not protected, the protective hind dunes cannot be formed. Way back in 70s, beaches like Calangute, Baga, Anjuna became world famous for several reasons. Due to this popularity, tourism related business came up on the beaches itself thus destroying all natural system. (ENDS) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ To unsubscribe from Goanews Send a mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: 'unsubscribe goanews'
