06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

has indicated that macro and meio-fauna
communities of Dangmal, Bhitarkanika and
Gahirmatha are different to each other. The
difference is due to variation in trophic diversity,
abundance in food, dissolved oxygen, soil and
water salinity, organic matter of sediments etc.
Threatened species:
Animals: Saltwater crocodile; Water
monitor lizard; Olive ridley sea turtle; King
cobra; Migratory duck; King crab and Water
fowl
Plants : Merope angulata; Cerbera manghas,
Heriteira spp.; Amoora cuculata Xylocarpus spp
i. Conservation Values
The conservation values for Bhitarkanika are very
high, since it the only site in mainland India that's
has enough mangrove and associates to provide a
secure habitat to many endangered species,
especially reptiles. The protected area also
provides an undisturbed mass-nesting beach for
Olive Ridley Turtles. In the cyclone in 1999, the
entire Paradeep area, south of this site was
devastated, while at this site the damage was
minimal in the peripheral areas. In fact the iocals
spoke of no damage at all in the core areas of the
protected zones. Kanvinde (1997) has given the
following classification of conservation values for
Bhitarkanika.
Direct Values
• Consumptive use value: The produce from the
forest that are used are: timber, fuelwood,
bark, grasses, vegetables, medicines, fish and
crabs and prawn seeds
• Productive use value: The ecosystem produces
fish, prawn,honey, fuelwood and timber.
Indirect Values
• Non consumptive value: The site is a haven for
many endangered and rare species. It also has
anheronry within its core zone. It has been a
site for mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles. It
supports the largest number of mangrove and
associate species.
• Option value: The site is rich source of
mangrove diversity, there has been no
information on the fish diversity of this site. The
site harbors King Crab, an animal which is a
living fossil and now of medicinal importance.
• Existence value: In terms of area, this forest is
next only to Sunderbans. The presence of many
Table7:Genderolesindifferentactivities
Bhitarkanika
endangered reptiles and mangrove species
gives it an high existence value. The grass
Portesia coarctata is a wild rice variety
capable of withstanding flooding and saline
conditions.
Most of the information presented in this section is
based on utilization of plant and plant products.
Mangroves being the important resource for
Bhitarkanika, the following table describes the
uses of different parts resources.
183
V, Bio-Resource Profile
Table6:UtilizationofMangrovesResources
Resource
1) Leaves
2) Wood
3) Bark Rbers
4) NealiaGrass
5) Fruits
6)Tide
7) Rshes
8) Honey
Utilizalion
Fodderforcatle
Fertilizer
Mat making
Fuel wood
Agnculturallmplements
Boat making
Bridge across small creeks
Thatching
Rope Making
Mat and basket making
Consumption
Collection of young shrimps
dunng high tide
Fishing, Aquaculture
Food and medicine
Impact on economy
Surplus milk sold commercially
Higher productivity
Household use and also sold
Household use and also sold
Used in farms
Used for fishing and transportation
Better accessibility
Household use
Household .useand also sold
Household use and also sold
Utilized in times of absolute
shortageoffood
Sold to shrimp farmers
Household use and shrimps sold
A source of income
Source: Suryanarayanan and Kanvlnde 1997
Suryanarayanan and Kanvinde (1997) have
described a resource base use pattern, based on a
socio economic survey of a few villages in the
Bhitarkanika Sanctuary. Kanvinde (1998) has
given a short account of the gender roles in
resource use and processing from Bhitarkanika
area.
AdMly Men Women Children
Agriculture All processes House restricted Help in straw
activity of boiling collection and
rice before drying storage
fishing cast nets, use boats fish in nearby Small round nets to
for fishing in the creeks walets catch prawns
and off shore areas
Fodder and Cut trees and leave in Cut trees and Collect dned wood
ft.