Key Facts about Pallikaranai Marshland

29-06-2024

Despite the threats of new infrastructure and encroachments, winged visitors continue to flock to the Pallikaranai marshland.

About Pallikaranai Marshland:

It is a freshwater marshland and partly saline wetland located 20 kilometers south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
It is one of the last remaining natural wetlands in Chennai city.
It acts as an aquatic buffer for the flood-prone Chennai and Chengalpattu districts.
It drains an area of 250 sq. km, including 65 wetlands, through two outlets: Okkiyam Madavu and the Kovalam Creek, and ultimately flows into the Bay of Bengal.
On its eastern periphery, the Marsh is bordered by the Buckingham Canal.
Portions of the Marsh lie below the mean sea level and qualify as low-lying basins.
It is recognized as one of the Ramsar sites in India.

What is the Ramsar Convention?

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
It is also referred to as the Convention on Wetlands.
The convention was signed in 1971 in the city of Ramsar, Iran, from which it derives its name.

This diverse ecosystem supports approximately 115 bird species, ten mammals, 21 reptiles, ten amphibians, 46 fish, nine molluscs, five crustaceans, and seven butterfly species.
Notable species include Russell's viper (Daboia siamensis) and several bird species, such as the glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), grey-headed lapwings (Vanellus cinereus), and Pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus).
Although the Marsh has a tropical bio-climate, the influence of the Bay of Bengal is significant.
The dramatic annual changes in its hydrology and biodiversity can be attributed to the maritime influence and the vagaries of the North East Monsoon.