Please Don't kill CORINGA - A Nature's Marvel

Hello People of Andhra Pradesh 🙏🏻

"ఈ జన్మను సద్వినియోగం చేసుకోకుండా, లేని జన్మ గురించి ఆలోచించడం అజ్ఞానం" అన్నారు మహాకవి శ్రీ శ్రీ.

అలానే, అందుబాటులో ఉన్న భూములను సద్వినియోగం చేసుకోకుండా, మడ అడవులను తెగనరికి ఇల్లు నిర్మించాలని అనుకోవడం మూర్ఖత్వం..

The following is a write up on very serious and sensitive issue regarding the news in circulation about the upcoming deforestation of CORINGA Wild Life Sanctuary 🌱

Firstly let's see few details about this beautiful geographical wonder :

• Coringa Sanctuary is at a distance of about 15 Km from Kakinada on Kakinada Yanam Road.

• This  Sanctuary named after the heavenly village Coringa in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, a part of Godavari Mangroves, was declared as a wildlife sanctuary by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh vide G.O.Ms.No – 484, Forests and Rural Development (For.III) Department dated 5-7-1978 was to conserve the mangrove vegetation of the estuary, extending in an area of about 235.Sq.Kms.

What is a mangrove ?

• Mangroves (మడ అడవులు) are salt – tolerent forest ecosystems of tropical and sub – tropical regions of the world.

• They normally occur between high waterlevel and near about mean sea level along the sheltered shores, estuaries.

• Where conditions favour the Mangroves may form extensive and productive forests in the sheltered coastal lines.

• The mangrovees contain a highly specialised community of plants associated with animal species which are not capable of surviving in any other situations.

• Mangrove occur in Andhra Pradesh in estuaries of Krishna and Godavari rivers.

• Andhra Pradesh has got an area of 582 Sq.KM.of Mangrove forests, accounting for about 9% of local forest area of the State, which amounts to just about 2% of the local geographical area of the State.

What are the flora and fauna found in CORINGA ?

• Thirty Five (35) Plant Species are present in this sanctuary belonging to twenty four different families of flora. They include :

Nalla Mada, Tella Mada, Vilva Mada, Tilla, Uppu Ponna, Calhasu, Oorudu, Thanduga, Kalinga, Guggilam, Attakanarai, Gangaravi, Ponna etc.

Shrubs like Chillangi, Nallatheega, Alchi, Pisingi  Herbs like Ilakura and Grasses like Yelugaddi, Dabbagaddi etc. can be seen too.

• The Sanctuary has an unique distinction of having a 18 Km. long sand spit in the North Eastern side, where the species of Olive Ridley sea turtle ( endangered species) nests during January – March every year.

Also, some other important animal species and over 120 species of birds are reportedly found here including :

• Smooth Indian Otters 

• Mud skipper ( Amphibious fish )

 • Fishing cat

• Sand piper 

• Black Capped Kingfisher

• Long billed Vulture ( Endangered )

What is the use actual use of Mangroves ?

• The structural complexities of mangrove vegetation create unique environments which provide ecological niches for a wide variety of organisms.

• Mangroves serve as breeding, feeding and nursery grounds for most of the commercial fishes and crustaceans on which thousands of people depend for their livelihood.

• They give protection to the coastline and minimise disasters due to cyclones and tsunami. 

• Recent studies have shown that mangroves store more carbon dioxide than most other forests.

• They act as an intermediate vegetation between land and sea that grow in oxygen deficient waterlogged soils which have Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S).

• They perform important ecological functions like nutrient cycling, hydrological regime, coastal protection, fish-fauna production, etc.

• They act as shock absorbers, reduce high tides and waves and help prevent soil erosion.

• They also provide livelihood opportunities to coastal communities.

Are there any other special features of CORINGA Wildlife Sanctuary ? 

Yess!!

• It has recently been discovered that Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is also habitat for organisms that produce enzymes that can be used to treat cardiovascular disease.

• Marine sediments collected from the mangroves of Coringa have been found to contain a significant amount of fibrinolytic enzymes.

(Note : Fibrinolytic enzymes are agents that dissolve fibrin clots.)

Any Recent developments from Government ??

• Recently, the central government has identified an area of ​​187.14 square kilometers in Coringa as an eco-sensitive zone.

• This will do more good for the environment by increasing the responsibility of the state government.

• The state government has banned the use and diversion of commercial forests, horticulture, agricultural areas, parks and public places for recreational activities in the eco-sensitive zone.

• Also, if there is a mistake in the land records within the Eco Zone, the center should be informed. Eco tourism in the zone should be developed according to the master plan.

• If this is compromised, there is a risk that the Central Environmental Department will take action.

• So, the Eco Zone will increase the chances of more tourists from all over the world to the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary ❤️

But,

The present government and the one in past critically failed in getting Ramsar site or Heritage site status to our CORINGA Sanctuary.

• Now our state government is getting ready to start the deforestation of " Coringa Mangroves - India's second largest Mangrove forest after Sunderbans ".

Hon. Chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy garu,

Our humble request to you is, by this time we have to realise how much damage we have done to our mother earth. Every now and then earth is showing it's anger upon the humans in different forms.

"Nature is really angry and we fool ourselves if we think we can fool nature because nature always strikes back and around the world nature is striking back with fury."

Please, Don't provoke to any foolish steps like killing CORINGA Sanctuary for any other activities sir🙏🏻

If state government continues with it's decision..

Irrespective of politics and political parties it's the responsibility of every andharite to unite against this "about to come" man made disaster. 

"అడవి తల్లికి దండాలు... మా కన్నతల్లికి దండాలు... అడవి చల్లగుండాలా... మా బతు కులు చల్లగుండలా" అంటూ అడవి తల్లిని పూజిస్తూ ప్రకృతిని కాపాడుకునేందుకు అందరూ ముందుకు రావాలి 🙏🏻

Remember, this is not a small issue..

- Harish Sai Manikanta