Long-delayed buffer zone notified for Mangalavanam

Kochi: The long-delayed buffer zone notification for Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary, Kochi's cherished green lung, has been issued by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC). The notification designates the area surrounding the sanctuary as an eco-sensitive zone, restricting new construction and development. Under the notification, a no-development zone has been declared within a radius of 0–0.55km from the sanctuary boundary, covering a total area of 0.122 sq km, including land belonging to Southern Railway. The Centre has directed the state govt to prepare a zonal master plan for the eco-sensitive zone within two years. The plan is to be developed in consultation with multiple departments, including environment, forest and wildlife, local self-govt, agriculture, revenue, urban development, tourism, public works and the state pollution control board. The notification clarifies that the master plan should not impose restrictions on existing approved land use, infrastructure, or ongoing activities unless specifically mentioned. Environmental activists who had long campaigned for the sanctuary's protection welcomed the move, though many noted it came after considerable ecological damage had already occurred. "A buffer zone is not merely a geographical boundary but a biological space. That space has already been encroached upon. Bird routes have been blocked, migratory bird numbers have declined, and even the remaining mangroves are affected by water and soil pollution. In a few years, even that could disappear," said social activist C R Neelakandan, who was part of the campaign to protect the sanctuary. He recalled a earlier proposal to develop a parking facility for the high court near the sanctuary, which was subsequently dropped. With the new high court campus coming up in Kalamassery, he suggested that the existing high court areas could potentially be incorporated into the buffer zone by discouraging further construction there. Mangalavanam was declared a bird sanctuary in 2004 and covers 2.74 hectares. The wetland ecosystem supports mangrove species, including Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Acanthus ilicifolius and Acrostichum aureum. The sanctuary hosts over 30 floral species, including some listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and serves as a nursery and feeding ground for several marine and freshwater organisms. This was also a vital feeding and nesting site for nearly 72 bird species, including migratory birds, colonial nesting birds, and bats such as the Indian flying fox. "It is an ecological treasure in the heart of the city. Had it been protected properly, we would not have to worry so much about air pollution. Despite repeated protests and court interventions, buildings came up around the sanctuary, affecting migratory bird routes. At least the remaining area has now been spared," said CM Joy, environmentalist and president of Kerala Nature Forum.