INDIA, Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep Archipelago - January 2009
Construction of a natural and cultural heritage museum and two guard posts in exchange for the establishment of a 2,471-acre marine and mangrove protected area
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The Lakshadweep Archipelago lies in the Arabian Sea at a distance of 155 to 280 miles from the west coast of India. Minicoy is the southernmost island of the Lakshadweep archipelago, with a total population of approximately 10,000. It is the only island in Lakshadweep that supports mangroves and salt marsh ecosystems. The Centre for Action Research on Environment Science and Society (CARESS) is working in partnership with Minicoyans to revive traditional management systems for protecting the reefs and lagoon. Minicoyan leaders have committed to creating a no-take marine protected area for a minimum of 20 years, encompassing a 2,471-acre marine area and mangrove ecosystem. In exchange, Seacology will build a natural and cultural heritage museum, as well as two guard posts for the marine protected area.
UPDATE June 2009 - As of February 2009 field representative Samit Sawhny began working on coordinating completion of the pre-grant documentation and planning phases for the project. Seacology sent grant documents directly to project leaders to retrieve signatures in March 2009. As of early April 2009 communication is down on the island and the project leader is currently waiting for notification from the site that they are ready to begin the project and plans have been solidified. Additionally, Mr. Sawhny will visit Lakshadweep in July or August 2009. A Seacology delegation will also visit the site in January 2010.
UPDATE September 2009 - The land for the museum was purchased during the first week of August 2009. Additionally, as of September 2009 the land has been cleared and the community is ready to begin construction. Three local villagers with homes on the shore where the protected area can be observed have volunteered to keep watch and are maintaining a log of daily activities. In addition a poster of the area being protected has been prepared in both English and the local Mahal language. Copies of this poster will be displayed on every village notice board and other prominent places to help create public awareness of the conservation efforts.
UPDATE December 2009 - As of December 2009 field representative Samit Sawhny reports that the building plan has been completed. Samit met with the project coordinator who said that the labor and construction material is in place and they plan to start on the foundation this month.
UPDATE April 2010 - As of April 2010 field representative Vineeta Hoon reports that the foundation ceremony was conducted on January 19; the land was cleared and made ready to begin construction. However, construction was then delayed until electricity was installed which occurred the first week of March. Once this was accomplished a motor for pumping water was installed and a temporary shed to store the immediately required materials was constructed. Earth clearing, trenching, fixing of column/pillar reinforcement has been completed. The project contact believes that by the end of April column work will be completed. Additionally, a shore and lagoon clean up was organized by the environment warden involving the community and the Maliku Development Society conducted an environment awareness meeting for families in April. Three fishermen who also serve as watch and ward are carrying out fish catch and reef related activity monitoring. An underwater survey of the ship wrecks in the lagoon was conducted in mid January. Photos were taken at all the sites and will be used for developing communication and awareness materials to emphasize why these areas need to be protected.
UPDATE July 2010 - As of July 2010 Vineeta reports that the community has completed the concrete work on the pillars and the roof will soon be laid. The building is progressing as scheduled.
UPDATE January 2011 - Vineeta Hoon reports that the building work is progressing well after the monsoon. The column work was completed in May 2010 and the ceiling slab was installed in September 2010. In October, the walls were built and a rain water storage tank was dug under the floor of the building. A banner has been put up in front of the building construction site to inform the public that this building is being constructed with a grant from Seacology in exchange for the creation of the protected area. The Minicoy fishermen, with support from CARESS, have installed six marker buoys within the lagoon; five are marker buoys for the no-take area, and the sixth is a mooring buoy. As part of the conservation and awareness efforts, CARESS held a workshop to train women in making souvenirs and toys with a marine theme, made with leftover fabric from the women's homes. The women learned how to make templates of the animals, and cut, sew and stuff their creations. They also learned about the importance of each creature in the ecosystem, and received a coral reef knowledge certificate, and were taken on a trip in a glass bottomed boat at the conclusion of the workshop. The women have created a self-help group and will make these souvenirs for additional income. Teachers and students have participated in activities such as games and a field trip to learn more about coral reefs, mangroves etc., and about how these ecosystems can be restored with a little help from humans.
UPDATE June 2011 - The outer building work and the flooring have been completed. A staircase is proposed to reach the terrace and make it usable. The building has been handed over to the Maliku Development Society (MDS). The members have promised to do the clearing of the building premises and cut steps into the hillock to reach the building with voluntary labor. Artifacts have been collected by members of the MDS to display in the Museum. The display units have yet to be built and the finishing touches need to be given to the building. Conservation work is ongoing. The rope holding the marker buoys to mark the no-take zone within the lagoon had been cut by some miscreants in the first week of April. A news item was aired by the cable TV network, which resulted in recovering five of the six marker buoys. The Fishermen’s Association has now replaced the marker buoys within the lagoon and is carrying out awareness work on the need for the marker buoys. A music CD called Hewalla, Rhythms of Maliku, featuring environmental songs, was produced with financial help from CARESS and released on the 28th of March.
As the construction of the museum has progressed, several families have come forward to provide antique pieces to the museum. These artifacts need to be kept securely on display in locked cabinets. In June 2011, Seacology's board of directors approved an additional grant for the construction of display units and showcases, as well as two additional rooms to house an office, store and toilet for the Natural and Cultural History Museum, in exchange for an agreement to protect the existing 2,471 acre marine and mangrove reserve for an additional 10 years (from 10 to 20 years).
