Ecosystem services provided by the Telineelapuram and Telukunchi Wetland sanctuaries of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Telineelapuram and Telukunchi bird Sanctuaries are very important wetlands and A-1 IBA (Important Bird Area) with code-IN229. Both the Important Bird Areas (IBA) in the coastal wetland of Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh in India. Telineelapuram and Telukunchi bird sanctuaries are small in size but rich in biodiversity. Telineelapuramharbours more than 450 Spot billed Pelicans and 800 Painted Storks,Telukunchi sustains thousands of Open Bills and many other birds. Birds are excellent indicators of ecosystem health. The IBA programme of Birdlife International aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for conservation of the world's birds and associated biodiversity. In recent time it has become an important ecosystem for wildlife as well as bringing significant benefits to the local people in term of crop yield and climate regulation. Ecological Services are defined as the benefits that people derive from nature (MEA 2005).The values of the wetlands are increasingly being acknowledged all over the world as a result of the ever increasing awareness about the role they have been playing in the development of civilizations and over all welfare of the humanity by ensuring water security and food security and several other services being derived from them. The study has been conducted to assess the economic benefits derived from these wetland resources by the rural people of the district and also to assess their socio-religious and cultural attachment with these wetlands. The fishermen completely depend on fish resource of these wetlands. Such resourceful wetlands have been found to degrade gradually due to anthropogenic activities like, encroachment, residential and commercial developments, dumping the garbage and wastes in the wetlands, etc. Therefore, appropriate measures should be adopted to conserve and save these important wetlands of the district