Lakshadweep’s beautiful photos masks the precarious state of its setting, significantly the coral reefs — making it essential for the federal government to mandate and guarantee accountable tourism practices and likewise repeatedly monitor the delicate ecosystem of the archipelago.

The Lakshadweep archipelago, comprising 35 islands (of which 10 are inhabited) has witnessed 4 main El Nino Southern Oscillation-related temperature anomalies previously twenty years (1998, 2010, 2016 and 2019), and three catastrophic cyclones within the final 4 years (Ockhi, Maha and Tauktae) leading to widespread coral bleaching and mortality, the Lakshadweep Research Collective, a crew of ecologists and marine biologists mentioned in a letter to then-president Ram Nath Kovind in 2021, responding to the administration’s publication of the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation of 2021(LDAR).

The group, 60 scientists and researchers, requested the President to withdraw the draft LDAR 2021 which sought to develop the islands as a serious vacationer vacation spot, underlining that the area’s distinctive geography, ecology, and lengthy human historical past positioned pure limits on the sorts of growth the archipelago can assist. The draft has been placed on maintain since, however the constraints stay the identical — one thing that must be saved in thoughts at a time when curiosity in Lakshadweep as a vacationer vacation spot is peaking.

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The curiosity follows a go to by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, intemperate responses to his tweets on the go to by junior ministers from the Maldives, a social media storm that includes influencers from each international locations, and a diplomatic spat that noticed the Maldivian ministers in query being suspended. On Monday, media studies mentioned India is continuing with plans to construct a brand new navy and civilian airport in Minicoy.

Lakshadweep’s enchantment comes from its surrounding reefs, the dwelling coral framework and the lagoon it encloses — however these additionally serve a operate. Together, they buffer the islands from waves, storms, land loss and saline ingress into groundwater, the scientists wrote of their letter.

But the reef is below menace.

A 2018 analysis paper revealed in Springer Journal discovered that restoration charges of affected reefs was steadily declining. “This has resulted in a 40% decline in absolute coral cover in the last two decades from 51.6% in 1998 to 11% in 2017,” the examine, led by researchers from the Nature Conservation Foundation, mentioned.

Fortunately, the 2023 El Nino occasion didn’t see any large-scale bleaching in Lakshadweep corals in line with ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute which is monitoring the reefs.

“Climate change is significantly impacting reefs in Lakshadweep through various mechanisms. The increase in sea surface temperature is a primary driver, leading to thermal stress that contributes to coral bleaching and the proliferation of infectious diseases. This, in turn, leads to a scarcity of food for corals and impedes the spread of coral larvae, affecting the overall health and sustainability of the reef ecosystem. Changes in storm patterns further exacerbate the situation, with intensified and more frequent storms causing potential devastation to coral reefs. Altered ocean currents are another consequence of climate change, bringing about changes in connectivity and temperature patterns,” mentioned Sreenath KR, senior scientist at CMFRI.

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“Additionally, the phenomenon of ocean acidification, driven by elevated levels of carbon dioxide, is impacting reefs worldwide. This acidification results in a decline in pH levels, negatively affecting coral growth and compromising the structural stability of the reefs,” he added, explaining that there’s nonetheless potential for Lakshadweep’s corals to get better from earlier bleaching occasions.

A major issue contributing to coral restoration is the wholesome reef fish inhabitants, as native fisheries primarily goal Skipjack tuna moderately than reef fish. Unlike many tropical reefs in creating nations, that are closely impacted on account of overfishing, Lakshadweep serves as a promising instance of how much less exploited reefs can have increased resilience capability, Sreenath mentioned.

Even as Lakshadweep copes with sea-level rise and onslaught of local weather disaster, the Centre has main plans to spice up its tourism.

On August 8, 2023, tourism minister G Kishan Reddy knowledgeable the Rajya Sabha that below Swadesh Darshan 2.0, Lakshadweep has been recognized for growth. The initiatives deliberate embody growth and upgradation of Agatti Airport; and the event of water aerodromes for sea airplane operation in Minicoy, Agatti and Kavaratti.

So far vacationer influx to Lakshadweep has been muted.

Experts warn towards mass tourism in Lakshadweep which can not have the ability to deal with different anthropogenic pressures. Sreenath has really helpful steady monitoring of reef well being, efficient fishery administration practices to make sure sustainable harvesting of reside baits, coral transplantation and synthetic reef set up, accountable tourism practices — significantly encouraging them to dive responsibly by avoiding bodily contact with reef organisms and refraining from anchoring boats on the reef.

There is not any proof of sewage contamination or oil air pollution detected in these reefs, however with a rising tourism footprint, that will additionally turn out to be a priority.

The Maldives has 1,192 islands of which 200 are inhabited (16%), whereas the Lakshadweep has 35 islands of which 10 are inhabited. This represents 87% of land space which is completely occupied, and an extra 8% of land space on “uninhabited” islands are used as useful resource areas and for fisheries.

Uninhabited atolls in Lakshadweep play an essential position within the upkeep of biodiversity. The Lakshadweep Research Group highlighted that regardless of its shut proximity to Maldives, coral reefs in Lakshadweep are practically half as biodiverse as these within the Maldives, owing to its geomorphology. Free from persistent anthropogenic pressures, uninhabited atolls can harbour as much as six instances the biomass of fish and a considerably increased richness of species however that may change utterly if tourism is just not regulated.

“Lakshadweep is at that point in history from where it can creatively and progressively strengthen and diversify on this trajectory; but if it is made to instead follow the development paradigms as on the mainland, it risks losing everything; just as unnecessary and irresponsible construction & infrastructure is wiping away beaches, wetlands, rivers and lakes on the mainland, making coastal cities prone to floods, and inland cities prone to drought,” the scientists wrote in 2021.

As Lakshadweep makes headlines, its probably additionally present process a marine heatwave.

“Sea surface temperatures during the past month indicate mild marine heatwaves in the southeastern Arabian Sea, close to Lakshadweep. NOAA forecasts indicate that these marine heatwaves may last through the next two months. Severe marine heatwaves can lead to coral bleaching and impact fisheries, though we do not have real-time data to investigate the ongoing impacts,” mentioned Roxy Mathew Koll, local weather scientist at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

Lakshadweep administrator Praful Patel didn’t reply to HT’s request for touch upon if the LDAR 2021 plan had been shelved.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in its Asia report in 2022 flagged that coastal habitats of Asia are numerous, and the impacts of local weather change together with rising temperatures, ocean acidification and sea degree rise has introduced unfavourable results to the companies and the livelihoods of individuals relying on it.

Reduced coral cowl and degraded coral neighborhood constructions are anticipated to scale back the suitability of coral reefs as habitat for a lot of different species, impacting the biodiversity and ecosystem companies upon which people rely, in line with US’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Changes in coral reef ecosystems ensuing from bleaching are anticipated to translate into shifts in fish species composition and, probably, lowered fishery catches and influence marine biodiversity. Coral-dependent fish are essential prey for bigger species, lots of that are focused in coral reef fisheries.