Odisha Coast - Coast Flashcards
Where is Odisha
East coast
Bordering the Bay of Bengal
Shape of the coastline
Straight (480km) with few natural inlets or harbours
Where is most of the states population
On the Odisha coastal plain
What wide variety of Maine and coastal flora and fauna are in the coastal zone
Mangroves Sea grasses Salt marshes Sand dunes Estuaries Lagoons
How much mangrove is there
1435km
What are the three main features
Chilika Lake
Mahandi Delta
Bhitarkanita mangroves
How many types of birds are in the bird sanctuary of Chilika Lake
150 migratory and resident species (attracts tourists who also visits the beach)
What does the coast represent
A significant sediment store and is a source and sink of sediment for this part of the Bay of Bengal
What do rivers provide
Important transfers of sediment into the region in forming deltaic deposits
What is Chilika Lake classed as
A salty lagoon
What are there large stocks of in Chilika Lake
Fish and Olive Ridley turtles
What are many local people employed in
Coastal fishing and increasingly in aquaculture such as shrimps
What is the geology along the coast
Sediment contains valuable minerals, including clay and limestone in the north state which is used by local industies
What are there opportunities for in Odisha
Offshore oil and natural gas and the area has a huge potential for offshore wind, tidal and wave power
Why has rates of erosion increased in recent decades
As a result of natural processes and a consequence of human intervention
What is the Indian government concerned about
Vulnerability of coastal populations to storm surges and tsunamis and long-term threats of climate change and sea levels rise
What is the coastal considered to be
A dynamic environment
How do natural seasonal variations occur
In summer: build up of sediment along beaches, dunes and barrier beaches during low energy wave conditions.
In winter: erosion with high energy destructive waves depositing sediment offshore.
Who carried out the 2011 Shoreline Change Assessmnent
Ministry of Environment and Forests
What did the 2011 Shoreline Change Assessnwbt conclude
That any attempt to halt the natural processes with hard engineering structures was likely to only shift the problems elsewhere
How much of the coastline was found to be stable by the 2011 Shoreline Change Assessment
14.4%
What does the unstable coastline mean
That any human intervention is likely to interfere with sediment transfers and result in severe erosion in some localities
What is the Odisha coast at risk from
Tropical cyclones and storm surges - it is likely that the frequency and intensity of such storms will increase as a result of climate change
Examples of cyclones
1999 Odisha Cyclone
2013 Cyclone Phallin
What was the strongest Cyclone ever recorded in the northern Indian Ocean
Odisha Cyclone
How many people did the Odisha Cyclone kill
1000
How much agricultural land was lost during the Cyclone Phallin
500,000ha
During Cyclone Phallin how did Chilika Lake suffer
It suffered a storm surge that destroyed thousands of mangroves
Why are plans in place along the coastline
To mitigate the effects of tropical storms
Before Cyclone Odisha how many people were evacuated
1 million
What are the human responses to the challenges
Evacuation.
Relief supplies provided before storms.
Warnings are broadcast to most vulnerable areas.
Local people also show considerable resilience in their ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
Additional cyclone shelters have been built to offer greater protection to local communities.
What was the response to the 2011 Shoreline Change Assessment
Developed an ICZM project to coordinate the activities of various stakeholders and promote sustainable use of coasts resources while maintains the natural environment.
What do the stakeholders in Odisha include
State and local government.
Tourist department.
The world Bank.
Handicraft industies.
What was the aims of Odisha ICZM
Protect the coastal environment.
Resource environmental, social and economic challenges and conflicts.
Establish sustainable levels of economic and social activity, including fishing and the development of ecotourism.
What has there been a wide range of consultations from
Public consultations and inter-organisational consultations
What two NGOs are there working towards resilience, mitigation and adaption of the coast
Greenpeace India
Wetlands International
What has Greenpeace India been involved in
Meetings about income generation and the management of marine resources
Who is the Wetlands International working with
The Indian government and local villagers
What is Wetlands International trying to do
Reverse decades of mangrove destruction in the Mahandi delta.
Work with villagers to cultivate and plant mangroves along the coastline and on the banks of tidal rivers.
Why is the Mahandi Delta important
It is an important ecological zone that provides natural habitats for a wide variety of wildlife
What do Mangroves provide
Protective belts that shelter villages from the worst effects of tropical storms.
What is planting mangroves with locals an example of
Sustainable and appropriate coastal management
