Team members: Mayukh Dey, Rajeswari B.T.

Lakshadweep atolls protected with coral reef from huge waves and soil erosion. Life in Lakshadweep is mostly depended by the natural resources. Largest island with an area of 4.90 sq.km. Out of 36 islands, ten are inhabited islands, 64429 is the population by 2011 census report. Human inhabitation is based on mostly the availability of fresh water and land area. Fresh water is getting from rain water, stored in ground area and which is not mixing with saline water through the protection of coral reef. Because of climate change and local pressure coral reefs are declining already. As a result, in the case of fresh water this could affect in the quality of fresh water and also increasing population in the islands, emerging constructions as well as unscientific way of land usages such as septic tanks and high horse power water pump so and so makes impact on the quality and quantity of fresh water.

As climate change continues to ravage the coral reefs of Lakshadweep, the ability of the reef to keep its head above water is being seriously threatened. If the processes of death and erosion overwhelm the processes of new recruitment, survival, and growth, these reefs can start rapidly crumbling away. At stake is the inhabitability of Lakshadweep itself. In a first for India, we are evaluating the integrity of Lakshadweep reefs by measuring the reef accretion potential (RAP) of sites in the archipelago. Our initial results paint a mixed picture of the protective function of Lakshadweep reefs. The good news is that reefs, on average, are still growing, despite multiple disturbances. However, some reefs, including those protecting the most urbanizing atolls, are already eroding faster than they can grow. This means that the impacts of climate change will place serious limits on the urban growth potential of the capital, and it poses a clear and present risk to the livelihoods of its populations.

Human inhabitation is based mostly on the availability of fresh water and land area. Fresh water is obtained from rainwater, stored in ground areas, and is not mixed with saline water through the protection of coral reefs. Because of climate change and local pressure, coral reefs are declining already. As a result, in the case of freshwater this could affect the quality of freshwater and also increase the population in the islands, emerging constructions as well as unscientific way of land usage such as septic tanks and high horsepower water pump so and so makes an impact on the quality and quantity of fresh water. As per the data results, hardness and salinity issues are present in all parts of the north side, also the northeast has the most problems with salinity and hardness. For drinking water, most of the people use water from NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology). At the same time other household chaos, they are using groundwater.

In this study we are aiming to understand the consumption of fresh water by human and non-humans. Trying to understand the consumption level of local people, understand the consumption quantity of plants (coconut trees) and the quality of fresh water.