Environment & Ecology
1.83 lakh Olive Ridley hatchlings released
- As many as 1,83,497 Olive Ridley hatchling were released into sea along the Tamil Nadu coast.
- The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has said that the number of sea turtle hatchlings released in 2022-23 was the highest in the last seven years.
Note:
- Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests.
- Forest Department, along with volunteers and turtle conservation organisations, had set up 35 hatcheries across the State as against 22 last year.
- Sea turtles are known to encounter a number of hurdles while making their way to the coast for breeding.
- One that has been highlighted is the threat of fishing gear in which sea turtles often get entangled.
T.N. constitutes State Bird Authority
- The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a State Bird Authority to monitor and improve bird sanctuaries, nesting conditions for birds, and ecotourism facilities.
- The committee, chaired by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests, will comprise representatives from various departments such Forests, Revenue and disaster Management, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Public Works, and Tamil Nadu Tourism Department Corporation.
- The Authority would formulate an “Integrated Management Plan” for all bird sanctuaries, map locations where native and migratory birds visit to create new protected areas for birds, improve visitor facilities and ecotourism development opportunities.
- It is a much-needed authority as Tamil Nadu has 17 bird sanctuaries, of which 14 are Ramsar sites.
- The State is also part of the Central Asian Flyway.
- The integrated plan is also set to include monitoring the number of birds and addressing local short comings.
Miyawaki urban forest around Red Hills reservoir
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- The Red Hills reservoir, a main source of the Chennai city is drinking water supply, is steadily gaining patches of green cover around it.
- In concerted efforts, the Water Resources Department, along with voluntary organisations, is developing Miyawaki urban forests on land retrieved from encroachers.
- The green cover would protect the ecology of the reservoir and improve biodiversity.
