Keri: in Talauli, Bhati, in Netrevali Wildlife Sanctuary, there are unique heritage forest spots with a unique Rawa Myristica ecosystem, which is more than 100 million years old.
This swamp forest is endemic with Western Ghats and a smaller distribution in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Rawa Myristica’s ecosystem plays an important role in maintaining the flow of eternal flow and has great potential to store carbon, thus helping the world in reducing carbon emissions.
“In Bhati, there are already two places, Baraazan and Suryagal, who have Rawa Myristica vegetation.
Because these areas are in the washing reserve, they have been protected and proved to be a eternal water source for wildlife,” the range of Netrevali Sanctuary officers, said Bipin faldesai.
These freshwater swamps are included in the umbrella category of ecologically sensitive areas and myristica swamps are classified as a unique green area.
In 1999, Rawa Myristica in Talauli was included in Netrevali Wildlife Sanctuary.
However, the Goa government allows mining activities in the nearest area to continue, which means the threat of destruction depends on this ancient forest fill.
When on November 7, 2003, the committee empowered centrally formed by the Supreme Court directing the Goa government to stop even removing grass from holy places, this helped protect the vegetation of swamps legally.
“There is an urgent need to map and do further research on Swamp Myristica across Western Ghats by documenting genetic diversity and local threats,” Wildlifers from Roughpales in Bicholim, Subodh rose, said.
These trees help hold water during the rainy season and then gradually release it during the lean season.
Varied flora and fauna species inhabit this mysterious ecosystem.
The forest has evolved to live in the condition of the flooded swamps with the root of the knee and roots.
Knee roots appear from the ground and are used to exchange gas, while the roots fall from the main stem and help support the trees mechanically on soft and unstable land.
“The previous community of forest residents who lived in Talauli in Bhati were aware of the ecological interests of this green forest spots and therefore they protected the area as a sacred garden.
However, for the last or more centuries this community has been forgotten,” Gokuldas Babuso Gaonkar, 60, from Potre in Sanguem, said, highlighting the need for special conservation efforts.