CRZ-I A and CRZ-I B: the Ecologically Sensitive Areas and the Intertidal Zone

In one line

CRZ-I is what is worth protecting for its own sake, and almost nothing may be done in it.

In the wording a student can write in an examination: under paragraph 2.1 of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2019 the CRZ-I areas are environmentally most critical and are classified into CRZ-I A, which constitutes the ecologically sensitive areas and the geomorphological features which play a role in maintaining the integrity of the coast, namely mangroves with a buffer of fifty metres where the mangrove area exceeds one thousand square metres, corals and coral reefs, sand dunes, biologically active mudflats, national parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats and other protected areas under the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 or the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 including biosphere reserves, salt marshes, turtle nesting grounds, horse shoe crabs' habitats, sea grass beds, nesting grounds of birds, and areas or structures of archaeological importance and heritage sites; and CRZ-I B, which is the intertidal zone, that is the area between the Low Tide Line and the High Tide Line.

The eleven ecologically sensitive areas

The list repays learning because it is a list of things and not of distances, and because an examiner asking about the classification expects it.

Mangroves, with the buffer. Where the mangrove area is more than one thousand square metres, a buffer of fifty metres along the mangroves is to be provided and that buffer is itself CRZ-I A.

Corals and coral reefs.

Sand dunes. Which is why the dressing or altering of active sand dunes is a prohibited activity throughout the zone.

Biologically active mudflats. The adjective matters. Not every mudflat, but one that is biologically active.

National parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats and other protected areas under the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 or the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, including biosphere reserves.

Salt marshes.

Turtle nesting grounds.

Horse shoe crabs' habitats.

Sea grass beds.

Nesting grounds of birds.

Areas or structures of archaeological importance and heritage sites.

The last is the one students forget. A coastal fort, a temple or a lighthouse of archaeological importance is CRZ-I A, and the reason is that the notification is protecting the integrity of the coast in a broad sense that includes what stands on it.

The management plan for these areas

A detailed environment management plan is to be formulated by the States and Union territories for such ecologically sensitive areas in their territories, as mapped out by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, based on the guidelines in Annexure I to the notification, and integrated with the Coastal Zone Management Plan.

So an ecologically sensitive area is not merely prohibited ground; it is ground for which a positive plan must be made. That is the improvement half of the Act's object, and it is often overlooked.