Owing to their established ecological importance, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (GoI) has given a protected status to these coastal ecosystems through the CRZ 2011 notification. Human intervention on coastal dunes is forbidden. However, there is little effort made towards the conservation and restoration of coastal dune ecosystems which are routinely being battered and degraded.
The CRZ 2011 notification has some special environmental considerations for Goa. Four beach strips, Mandrem and Morjim in north Goa, and Agonda and Galgibaga in south Goa, have been classified and designated as turtle nesting grounds and protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Developmental activities in the turtle breeding areas are prohibited. Therefore, the four beaches cited above are already protected by law.
A first ever effort towards showcasing natural coastal dune systems of Goa is presented here. Since these beach stretches (Mandrem, Morjim, Agonda and Galgibaga) have a legally designated status, it would be worthwhile to, as well, consider / notify the same four stretches as sand dune parks. At present, each of the four beach strips present distinctive geomorphic features. The plan proposed here would therefore be the first of its kind.
1. Mandrem has a linear beach system backed by dunes some of which are identified even today. In addition,a unique barrier beach with an intervening creek is found in Mandrem. This is a classified beach and well known for turtle visits. However, this sector is severely affected by tourism related activities such as beach shacks in particular that dot this part of the Goa coast. CRZ violations such as razing and leveling of dunes, and uprooting vegetation are common along the entire Mandrem sea front. Therefore, saving a dune strip for conservation may be a daunting task from a coastal management perspective.
2. Morjim beach forms the southern part of a linear beach strip, characterized by a seasonal spit, at the Chapora river/estuary; this sandy feature evolves in a southerly direction. Successive Google Earth images reveal how dynamic this beach-dune system can be. It is this area that is classified as the turtle nesting site, and is fortunate enough, as human interference along this peninsula is negligible. The southern tip of the beach is about 0.5 km long, and is characterized by a significant sand dune field with luxuriant vegetation carpet. Therefore, this system would be an ideal dune park of Goa from a geological, geomorphological and biological perspective.
3. Agonda is an enclosed beach in south Goa as the strip is bounded by two minor rocky headlands. The beach is relatively narrow and availability of sand may be minimal. The northern coast of Agonda is occupied by dwellings, but the southern half which is characterised by low sand dunes can be considered for conservation and restoration efforts. As in Mandrem, although this beach is reserved for turtle nesting, a lot of haphazard tourism related activity is noted here. The illegal shacks occupying dune fields need to be removed for the sake of dune management.
4. Galgibaga is the least affected as far as the human interference is concerned, as no developmental activities are permitted here. A majestic and high linear dune field is identified all along the 1.6 km long beach that ends in the spit at the river mouth, can be clearly noted in the GE satellite images. The dune line is well preserved and the vegetation cover is largely thick and intact. If left to evolve by itself in space and time, the entire Galgibaga beach strip can qualify as the second best dune park of Goa.
In addition to the above notified beaches, the Miramar – Caranzalem beach stretch is yet another strip that can be taken up for restoration and conservation. Commercial activity such as operation of beach shacks is not allowed here. Moreover, this beach front is the only one extensively studied and routinely monitored by NIO scientists since the 1970’s; several scientific papers have been published about this beach alone, and the data are valid even today. Moreover, the 3 km long Caranzalem – Miramar beach front is the only such ecosystem located within an estuary of the Indian coast, and is free from human interference. This geomorphic unit (a component of an estuary)can as well be designated as a sand dune park. Logistically well placed, this ecosystem can ideally serve as a field demonstration site also.
It may be noted that some private individuals are willing to cooperate in this dune conservation venture. This aspect needs to be probed further. Although dune complexes are located in private properties, the national CRZ 2011 notification does not distinguish between private plots or government lands. It is the eco-sensitive and fragile coastal sand dune belts that matter.
It may be reiterated that efforts on the conservation of natural coastal ecosystems has never been thought about, not only in Goa but in the country in general. Therefore, this scheme for / on coastal sand dune parks has multi-pronged benefits: (1) India does not have dune parks as such an effort was never made; (2) Notification of sand dune parks in Goa would be the first of its kind in India, as restoration, conservation and management initiatives of coastal sand dunes are rarely attempted, and still in its infancy; (3) Establishment of notified coastal ecosystems would put Goa in the fore front in the conservation of (degraded) coastal sand dunes; (4) This scheme does not involve any major financial commitment, except for plantation programs and dune line fencing for protection of dune flora; (5) This project does not call for any additional research activity as such as only occasional monitoring may be needed; (6) Such landscapes can serve as field demonstration units and coastal botanical gardens for public in general and school students in particular; (7) The natural distribution and evolution of dune flora and fauna in space and time can be studied and / or understood from a scientific perspective; (8) Natural dune parks can also serve as natural nurseries or botanical gardens to understand the role and functions of sandy coasts and its vegetation; (9) Based on our earlier research on the zonation, distribution, richness and diversity of flora of coastal dunes of India, three bio-zones were proposed; these coast parallel strips include: (a) a frontal pioneer zone of grass and creepers, (b) a zone of low to medium shrubs and bushes, and (c) a hind zone of taller inland trees. The proposal described above also offers an opportunity to further validate the coastal bio-zone hypothesis.
(Dr Antonio Mascarenhas is a Former Scientist, NIO, Goa, and Member, GCZMA and GSBB)
