Rare freshwater swamp forests in the Western Ghats are facing the risk of extinction as increasing human activity threatens the ecosystems and their ability to retain water. A study published in Current Science has highlighted concerns surrounding the Myristica swamps, a distinctive wetland ecosystem found in a limited area of Kulathupuzha in Kerala. These swamps are considered among India’s most primitive ecosystems and support specialised vegetation and a wide variety of animal life.

The Myristica swamps are adapted to permanently or seasonally waterlogged conditions and contain plants with distinctive structural features. These include pneumatophores, or aerial roots that grow vertically above the water, as well as stilt roots that help plants survive in saturated soils. Such adaptations allow the vegetation to thrive in environments where ordinary forest species may struggle. The ecosystem’s specialised plant communities also provide habitat and resources for numerous species of fauna.

Beyond supporting biodiversity, the swamps perform important functions within the Western Ghats’ natural water system. Their ability to hold and gradually release water helps regulate floods, recharge groundwater and maintain freshwater flows. The wetlands can act as natural storage systems during periods of heavy rainfall, while the retained water can contribute to streams and other freshwater sources during drier periods.

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The study warns that this water-holding capacity is gradually disappearing as wetlands are drained or converted for other uses. The loss of their natural ability to retain water can have consequences beyond the immediate wetland area. Reduced water storage during heavy rainfall may contribute to flooding, while the loss of stored water during dry periods can leave streams with reduced or interrupted flows. This creates a situation in which areas may experience both excessive water during intense rainfall and water shortages later.

Human activities are among the major threats identified for these rare ecosystems. Logging and the conversion of swamp areas for agriculture have reduced the natural habitat. Paddy cultivation, tea plantations and plantations of crops and trees such as areca nut, oil palm and teak can replace the specialised wetland vegetation. Once drained or converted, the ecological characteristics that allow the swamps to function as freshwater reservoirs can be difficult to restore.

Freshwater swamp forests occupy no more than about 2.1% of the Earth’s surface, making the conservation of remaining ecosystems particularly important. The study’s findings underline the need to protect the Myristica swamps not only for their unusual biodiversity but also for their role in maintaining water security and regulating natural hydrological cycles. Preventing further drainage, logging and conversion of these wetlands could be crucial to ensuring that this rare Western Ghats ecosystem continues to survive.

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