Chilika Lake is Asia's largest brackish water lagoon, located along India's east coast in Odisha and covering over 1,100 square kilometers. It is home to diverse biodiversity including migratory birds, Irrawaddy dolphins, and over 160 bird species. Eco-tourism activities such as bird watching, dolphin watching, boating, and camping have become popular while also providing alternative employment to local communities. However, the lake faces threats from siltation, shrinking water levels, and commercial overdevelopment. The Chilika Development Authority was established in 1992 to restore the lake and implement conservation activities like appointing local guards, banning plastics, and developing ferry services.

1. CHILIKA LAKE
and
Eco-tourism
Rashmiranjan
MBA (Tourism)

2. CHILIKA LAKE

3. CHILIKA LAKE
 Asia's largest brackish water lagoon i.e. It is Asia’s largest salt-
water lagoon and is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a
sandy ridge.
 Covers an area more than 1100 sq km along the east coast of
India in the state of Odisha.
 The water spread area of the Lagoon varies between 1165 to
906 sq.km during the monsoon and summer respectively.
 A 32 km long, narrow, outer channel connects the lagoon to
the Bay of Bengal

4. CHILIKA LAKE
 Chilika lake is a designated “Ramsar site” in 1981 by The
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
 Chilika is one of the hotspots of biodiversity and shelters a
number of endangered species listed in the IUCN red list of
threatened species.
 Chilika lake is an important habitat and breeding ground for
both resident and migratory and aquatic birds.
 Migratory birds comes from Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral
Sea and Siberia parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia,
Central and southeast Asia and Himalayas.
 Best time for tourism activities Nov-March

6. Biodiversity in Chilika Lake
 Major biodiversities are:
 Migratory birds
 Irawadi Dolphins.
 Bottolnose Dolphins
 726 species of flowering plants (496 genera and 120 families)
 800 species of fauna. ( including 24 mammalian, 37 reptile species)
 Nearly 12lakh migratory birds comes in the peak season.
 The lagoon hosts over 160 species of migratory birds in the
peak migratory season.
 45 percent of the birds are terrestrial in nature, 32 percent
are waterfowl, and 23 percent are waders. The lagoon is also
home to 14 types of raptors.

7. Eco-tourism in Chilika
 Scenic natural flora and fauna of the lake are an
attraction for eco-tourism.
 Provide a degree of alternative employment to the local
community
 Generate
environmental awareness, among local
residents as well as visitors.
 Different conservation activities are taken by local Govt.
as well as other bodies with wise use of the lake’s natural
resources.

8. Eco-tourism activities at Chilika
 Bird watching
 Dolphin watching
 Boating.
 Fishing.
 Wetland viewing.
 Camping.

9. Eco-tourism points at Chilika
 Nalbana Bird Sanctuary and Island
 Satpada wetland and Dolphin view point.
 Mangalajodi conservation center
 Parikuda Island.
 Kalijai Island.
 Chilika Ecopark.

10. Threats to Chilika lake
 Siltation due to littoral drift and sediments from the
inland river systems
 Shrinkage of water surface area
 Choking of the inlet channel as well as shifting of
the mouth connecting to the sea
 Decrease in salinity and fishery resources
 Proliferation of fresh water invasive species and
 Migratory bird poaching.
 Excess commercialization and motor boat.
 Fights between fishermen and non-fishermen
communities about fishing rights in the lake and
consequent court cases

11. Conservation Activities
 In 1992, the Government of Odisha, set up the
Chilika Development Authority (CDA).
 The CDA was set up for restoration and overall
development of the lake under the administrative
jurisdiction of the Forest and Environment
Department.
 To protect the Lake ecosystem with all its genetic diversity.
 To formulate the management plan for Integrated Resource
Management and wise use of the lake's resources by the
community depending on it.
 To
execute
multidimensional
and
multidisciplinary
developmental activities either itself or through other
agencies
 To collaborate with various national and international

12. Conservation Activities
 Local people are appointed as guard during the




migratory season of birds.
Plastics and other non degradable items are
banned at the Islands.
Provision of solar streetlight systems to island
villages.
Development of a ferry service for isolated
villages
Construction of landing facilities for fisher folk, as
well as education and environmental awareness
activities.

13. Irrawaddy Dolphin
Bottle-nose Dolphin

14. Thank you