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

Malvan tahsil located along west coast of India, is
spread over 66.3 km' (16°04' North latitude and
73°.28' East longitude) It covers 136 villages and
772 hamlets (wadies) under 63 Gram Panchayats.
The tahsil has good potential for tourism. The
bioresource are very rich in the tahsil which have
reached world market like prawns in fishes and
Alphanso Mango in fruits.
The tahsil is surrounded and also cris-crossed by
estuaries which support virgin mangrove
vegetation of Maharashtra, especially at a place
Achra. Malvan tahsil has population record of
1,16,091 for 2001. The population has increased by
3.55% as compared to 1991 census. The urban
population is 18,675. The average sex ratio is
55777 males to 60314 females.
The Biodiversity and conservation values of
Malvan are high. The area is rich in mangroves,
medicinal plants, horticultural crops, marine
corals. It forms the part of Konkan hence rich
scenic beauty is the added feature. The coastal
belt boundary of the area merges into Western
Ghats. Thus the site is unique, with a great
diversity of habitat as well as plant and animal
life.
Bioresources of Malvan can be categorized as
wild, and domesticated. In general, the site
supports wild bioresources such forest, marine life,
estuaries, mangroves, medicinal plants, firewood,
fodder, NTFP, genetic resources, ornamentals etc.
So long as fishery is concerned more than 10,000
tonnes is the catch. The major varieties are
MAL VAN
Ii
Ribbon fish, polynomids, pomfrets, prawns,
shrimps, lobster, cuttle fish and squids. The fish
resources are treated as salt cured, sundried,
rawfish as well as fresh. Amongst domesticated
bioresources cereals crops, pulses, oil crops,
horticultural crops like mango and cashew,
livestock, aquaculture, coconut, areca palm,
kokam, etc. are important.
The ornamental plants account to about 35-40,
belonging to different families including
Orchidaceal. A list of medicinal plants touches the
figure of 124. The mangrove resource total to
including associates, about 30. There are 6 species
of corals and more than 150 algal forms. In
addition there are amphibians, reptiles, birds,
mammals and fish varieties contributing to
bioresources of the site.
The major threats are environmental pollution,
exploitation of bioresources for food, fodder and
timber. Reclamation by bun ding the estuaries is
yet another threat. Most of the threats are
anthropogenic. The potential threats lie with fish
catch, mango and cashew plantations and forest
resources.
Conservation efforts are negligible except CRZ
regulation. There is need for .awareness
programmes. The conservation status can be
elevated by people's participation, joint efforts of
forest departments, research organizations, NGOs,
social workers and agencies having concern with
conservation.