A recent study has for the first time quantified the economic value of the Kole wetlands in Kerala, estimating their total economic value (TEV) at approximately Rs 417 crore per year. Conducted by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and the College of Forestry at Kerala Agricultural University, the research highlights the critical role of these wetlands in providing ecosystem services.
Study Details
The Kole wetlands, spanning 13,632 hectares across Thrissur and Malappuram districts, were designated a Ramsar site in 2002 and classified as a high-value biodiversity area by the Union government in 2009. The study, titled 'Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services in the Kole Wetlands, A Ramsar Site in Kerala', found that indirect services contribute more to the total value than direct ones.
Direct use value was estimated at Rs 169 crore, while indirect use value reached Rs 240 crore, accounting for 58% of the TEV. Flood storage emerged as the single largest contributor to the total value.
Direct and Indirect Services
Direct services include paddy cultivation, fishing, lotus farming, duck rearing, and tourism. Indirect services encompass flood storage, carbon sequestration, and groundwater recharge. M Krishnadas, assistant professor of agricultural economics at KAU, explained: "The natural flood storage service is crucial, as Thrissur's slope runs toward the wetlands, making them key to preventing flooding in the city. We assessed the ecosystem services, including the livelihoods they support for dependent communities."
Conservation Efforts
K K Kochu Mohammad, president of the District Kole Karshaka Samithi, noted that paddy cultivation has helped protect the wetlands from encroachment. "Paddy is cultivated on 26,000 acres of Kole wetlands. Our strong organisational network, with members across political parties, helps prevent reclamation by vested interests. Since the wetlands haven't faced major degradation," he said.
The study underscores the need for continued conservation efforts to preserve the ecological and economic benefits of the Kole wetlands.
