Kerala: Pathiramanal declared as first local biodiversity heritage site of Alappuzha

ALAPPUZHA: Pathiramanal, the picturesque island in Vembanad Lake in Muhamma grama panchayat, has been declared as first local biodiversity heritage site of Alappuzha. A part of this famous island will also be converted as a birdy sanctuary soon.
The declaration has been made on Wednesday by Haritha Kerala Mission chairperson T N Seema online after Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB)has approved the island’s biodiversity report prepared by the board’s district wing in this regard.
There is biodiversity management committee in the panchayat and as per the request of the committee, the KSBB’s district team called at Pathiramanal, which is a treasure trove of nature, and prepared the report. This tiny island has abundance of four types of mangroves growing in fresh water. As per the report, the island is having 160 types of flowering plants and nine types of fern(flowerless plants). Out of them, 52 types are trees, 21 types are bushes, 72 types are small plants and 13 types are creepers.
The island is also a home to 5 types of mammals, 18 types of amphibians, 12 types of reptiles, 89 types of birds, 106 butterflies and 18 types of dragon flies. In the water areas near the island, 120 different varieties of creatures including fishes are seen.
The biodiversity report of the island has been prepared by KSSB’s team led by its district technical wing members Jose Mathew and Sandeep Unnikrishnan.
The grama panchayat president J Jayalal said that as the island has been declared as local biodiversity heritage site, they will convert the island as a biodiversity study centre. A portion of the island will also be converted as bird sanctuary. The grama panchayat with the support of its Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) of Kudmbashree has also started a small eatery in the island for the visitors of the island.
The island that is 13km away from Alappuzha town is spreading in 28.505 hectares. This island was known as 'Ananda Padmanabhan Thoppu' and ‘Pathira Thoppu’.