Right now, I’m standing on the banks of the Vamanapuram river. Earlier, this was the river bank. Later it became a rubber plantation. What you see here are rubber trees. As a result, all the native species have disappeared. The reason for saying this is that river bank conservation efforts are underway in many places in Kerala now, and the species that is used to reclaim the river banks is the bamboo. Here too, you can see bamboo plants on both sides of the river. But the annual flooding we see here show that the bamboo cannot protect the river banks. Although it is summer now, two months back this area was flooded. As the waters rose, the bamboo shoots were uprooted and washed away, along with two or three cents of land. Even otherwise, if a tree comes floating and hits the bamboo, the bamboo and the soil it stands on will get dislodged in the impact. In other words, scientists argue that the bamboo is most unsuited for protecting river banks. Dr P. K. Shaji, a friend of mine, is a scientist who has specialized in riparian vegetation. I shall introduce him to you in another video, and he will mention the species that are best suited for the purpose.
The reason for introducing this subject now is to remind interested viewers that this is the right time to begin efforts for river bank conservation. That is, from December to May. With the rains coming, we will not be able to do it from June to October. Last year, we had floods till December. There are plants and trees that grow naturally on river banks, depending on the gradation of the ground surface. They have to be preserved – trees like chironji, large-flowered bay tree, Java olive tree, incha [Acacia caesia wild], and several kinds of ferns. Another species that is best for protecting the river banks is a kind of reed, locally known as ottal. That one you see there, named Gnetum ula, is a favourite of elephants. With its stalk as thin as that of a papaya leaf stem, it belongs to the bamboo family. Earlier, it was used to make baskets. The leaves are very broad, and elephants like them the most. It is when these leaves are in short supply and there is nothing else to eat that elephants seek the solitary fishtail palm leaves and bamboo. Ottal is much smaller than the bamboo but very effective in holding the soil and protecting river banks.
Bamboo roots do not go deep although the plant grows very tall. So those of you who wish to protect river banks should consult scientists and either plant trees that are endemic to the region, or permit the natural vegetation to grow there. We have planted a lot of screw pine at various places. Although it has spines, it is very effective in protecting river banks. People ask whether mangroves aren’t effective. They are but it requires some prior preparation to plant them whereas screw pine does not need it. If we do all this, we may be able to protect these banks from the floods next year. In order to find out how much erosion has taken place, one has only to walk in this area. Therefore, if we are able to plant these shrubs at the panchayat level, that will be a very laudable step.
Another point to make is that it should be done following the Miyawaki Model because we will be able to accomplish in five years what will normally take 25 years to attain. Time is of the essence. Besides, as all the saplings are planted closely they will hold more soil, and their growth will be very quick. Please think over this subject. I am not an expert but shall bring an expert to you soon. Until then, ponder over it. Avoid planting bamboo altogether because it cannot help in conserving river banks.