Odisha

• Where is the Odisha coast?

  North East India
• How long is the Odisha coastline?

  480km
• Where does most of the population of the state live?

  On the level coastal strip - the Odisha coastal plains
• What are some characteristics of the Odisha coast?

  A deposition coast. Includes several major deltas. A significant sedimentary store
• What is Chilika Lake?

  A salty lagoon that is home to 150 species of birds
• What is their large employment sector?

  Coastal fishing and aquaculture
• What valuable minerals are found along the coast?

  Clay and limestone
• What energy sources give opportunity for development?

  Offshore oil and natural gas - the area has a huge potential for offshore wind, tidal and wave power
• What is the largest mangrove called?

  Bhitarkanita
• What was the Odisha cyclone?

  Occured in 1999. Killed over 1000 people. Strongest ever recorded in the northern Indian Ocean
• What was Cyclone Phailin?

  Occured in 2013. Resulted in the loss of 500,000 hectares of agricultural land. Chilika Lake suffered from a storm surge that destroyed thousands of mangrove trees
• Why is the Indian government increasingly concerned about the vulnerability of coastal communities?

  High risk of storm surges and tsunamis - longer term threats such as climate change and rising sea levels
• How much of the coastline was found to be stable by the 2011 Shoreline Change Assessment?

  14.4%
• What was developed in response to the 2011 Shoreline Change Assessment?

  An ICZM project to coordinate the activities of various stakeholders and to promote the sustainable use of the coasts natural resources
• Who are the main stakeholders of the Odisha coast?

  National government departments, state and local government departments as well as the states tourist department and local handicraft industries
• What global common supports the ICZM venture?

  The World Bank
• What are the aims of Odisha ICZM?

  Establish sustainable levels of economic and social activity including fishing and ecotourism. Resolve environmental, social and economic challenges and conflicts. Protect the coastal environment
• Which NGO is working with the Indian government to reverse decades of mangrove destruction of the Mahanadi Delta?

  Wetlands International
• Why is planting mangroves a good mitigation strategy?

  They provide habitats for wildlife. Provide a protective belt that shelter villages from the worst effects of tropical storms. Off put erosion of the coastline
• How have local people shown resilience in Odisha?

  Building cyclone shelters to offer greater protection
• How many mangroves did villages have to protect them 50 years ago?

  50 years ago, coastal villages in Odisha had an average width of 5.1km of mangroves protecting them. Today, that figure is an average of 1.2km
• How do mangroves accumulate sediment?

  The faster sea levels rise, the faster mangroves accumulate sediment in their roots. They can keep up with a rise of 25mm a year - 8x the current global rate