GOA ENVIS NEWSLETTER

About ENVIS Goa Centre

This centre aims at the fulfillment of objectives laid down under ENVIS Programme such as

About The Goa State Council For Science & Technology

Activities of Goa State Council of Science & Technology

• Science popularization and awareness in the subject of recent technological advances.
• Environmental awareness programmes at school / higher secondary / college levels to create an understanding about environmental conservation amongst the student community & general public.
• Remote sensing based projects / trainings on sustainable management and optimum utilization of natural resources of the State.
• Watershed related activities through community participation at village levels under various centrally funded schemes, namely – National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) as well as Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP).
• Functioning as an ENVIS node, supported by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India towards the creation of integrated website on management of coastal ecosystem and environs.
• To aid the continuous efforts in upgrading the technological expertise at the state level, GSCST has recently set up a full-fledged ENVIS inter-reactive node / centre.

Coastal Ecosystems in Goa

Goa is located on the West coast of India between 140 53’ 57’’ to 150 47’59’’ North latitudes and 730 40’ 54” to 740 20’ 11” East longitudes with a geographical area of 3702 sq.km. It is bounded by the districts of Sindhudurga (Maharasthra) in the North, Belgaum & Dharwad (Karnataka) along the East and South and Arabian Sea to the West.

A typical geomorphic profile of a coastline in Goa

Physio-graphically, Goa is broadly divided into three main sub regions viz.

1. The Coastal Plains towards West,

2. The Interior Highlands, (i.e. undulating midland) and

3. Mountainous regions of the Western Ghats towards the East.

Of these, the Coastal Plains is the most sensitive region in the State.

The coastal zone of Goa is traversed by seven major dynamic estuarine rivers, which form intricate river system network. The Kumbarjua canal is the only connection between two major rivers Mandovi and Zuari. The major rivers, which cut across the hinterland, originate in the Western Ghats. The important rivers are river Tiracol (28 km), river Chapora (31 km), river Mandovi (81 km), river Zuari (67km), river Sal (35 km), river Talpona (31 km) and river Galgibaga (15 km). All the rivers are lined by dense mangroves within the estuarine stretch, the Chorao island stretch being the most prolific.

The open sea front of Goa is characterized by a combination of long beaches, pocket beaches, rocky shores, promontories and headlands. Of the entire 105 km long coast, more than 70 km comprise of sandy beaches and majority of them are backed intermittently by several rows of 1 to 10 mts high sand dunes which extend almost half a km or more on the landward side before merging with the hinterlands.

In general, the coastal plains of Goa comprise of an intricate system of wetlands, tidal marshy area, and cultivated paddy fields, all intersected by canals, inland dykes, bays, lagoons and creeks. All the rivers and the extensive backwaters in the hinterland are governed by regular tides which may go upto 25 kms upstream thereby rendering a status of estuaries to these water bodies. The prominent lowlands found adjacent to most of the rivers are locally known as “Khazan lands”.

Sand dune vegetation, Ipomea sps. at Miramar beach

Khazans are saline flood plains of Goa’s tidal estuaries (below sea level at high tide), which have been reclaimed over centuries with an intricate system of bunds (dykes) & sluice gates. Salt production through tidal inflow of saltpans has been a traditional occupation in coastal Goa. The salt is produced every year during February to May. During the remaining part of the year, fish/shrimps and paddy crops are raised in these fields.

Typical rocky beach at kananginim (Canacona Taluka)

Khazans at Sancoale (Mormugao Taluka)

Saltpans at Siolim (Bardez Taluka)

Shell farming at Kiranpani (Pernem Taluka)

Table 1. List of Mangrove species reported in Goa.

Traditional fishing at Palolem (Canacona Taluka)

Low key recreation at Dona Paula jetty (Tiswadi Taluka)

Table 2. List of Fauna associated with Mangroves in Goa.

A rivulet flanked by diversified Mangrove species at Carambolim (Tiswadi Taluka)

Severe cliff erosion at Anjuna (Bardez Taluka)

Along the entire coastal stretch from North to South, the following features are seen:

1. The coastline of Pernem, between Tiracol and Chapora rivers primarily consists of open sandy beaches interspersed in few areas by hillocks. The Northern most part of the hills is marked by the fortification of Tiracol.
2. In Bardez, the coastline between Chapora and Mandovi rivers presents a varied nature & beach profile. From Chapora fort to Baga creek, the coast is virtually rocky except for the presence of small pockets beaches at Anjuna and Chapora. Between Anjuna and Chapora, at few locations the coastline shows cliff erosion resulting into a curvilinear topography. From Baga creek to the South upto Aguada, the beach is a vast stretch of flat sandy land representing open coastal landscape.
3. In Tiswadi, the coastline is flanked by two main rivers viz. Mandovi and Zuari, which are separated by a promontory of a hillock representing Dona-Paula plateau. There is a series of pocket beaches on the seaward side of Dona-Paula plateau as well as at certain sections of the Mandovi River (Miramar) and the Zuari River (Bambolim).
4. In Mormugao Taluka, the Northern coast along Zuari River is used primarily for maritime activities, boat repairs, port and other related activities.
5. The stretch from Dabolim to Mormugao, which further extends upto Mobor, adjoining the Sal River in Salcete Taluka, depicts a very long (appox. 35 Kms) linear stretch of sandy beach.
6. The coastal portion from the Sal river in Salcete Taluka to Loliem and further beyond Kola in Canacona Taluka, is essentially a forested area having a cliffs and rocky coastline interspersed with some narrow sandy beaches viz. Palolem and Agonda.

Tourism is a major industry in the state and as it is mainly concentrated along the coastal stretches of Goa, pose a severe threat to the fragile and dynamic coastal ecosystems. Although increasing tourism and other related activities have enhanced the employment related opportunities, coastal developmental activities have induced noticeable and adverse environmental and social problems. The impact gets worse because of related anthropogenic activities that follow coastal tourism, and as a result Goa’s coastal scenario is prone to fast changes. Construction of resorts, residential dwellings, commercial establishments, beach side entertainment centers / eat outs have changed the coastal localities drastically in villages such as Calangute, Colva, Anjuna, etc.

Before tourism became a source of revenue (prior to 1970), the only identifiable structures along the shore were a few cabins and thatched huts made of coconut tree leaves that protected the sea-going canoes, some of which can still be seen today. The large plain areas behind the dune belts were used for farming and paddy cultivation, activities which are common at certain places even today. Recreation activities were restricted to Calangute, Miramar and Colva beaches, being the only beaches, which were most frequently, visited by tourists/ locals.

A Typical Goan Sandy Beach

Today a few coastal areas are overcrowded due to haphazard growth of structures, resulting in undesirable over urbanization. Other threats faced by the coastal ecosystem of Goa are: loss of biodiversity, adverse effects on beaches, dunes, mangroves, water bodies and khazan lands and overexploitation of groundwater. In recent years after realizing the adverse environmental consequences several planning & statutory measures have been taken up by both, Central and State Government, to control coastal urbanization and divert tourism activities towards the hinter lands by encouraging eco-tourism.

The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) is playing a vital role in regulating the developmental activities along the coast. The details of the same are proposed to be highlighted in the forthcoming issues.