Most mornings at Elathur Lake start with a flutter. The nonetheless waters in Erode’s Nambiyur taluk (sub-district) all of the sudden ripple as hundreds of wings rise into the sky — pintails, storks, geese, and eagles portray the horizon. For the villagers who reside round it, this sight is extra than simply lovely. It’s a reminder of how their unity saved a lake, and why the Tamil Nadu authorities has now declared it the state’s third Biodiversity Heritage Website (BHS) below Part 37(1) of the Organic Variety Act, 2002.

Unfold throughout 37.42 hectares, the lake is a thriving wetland made up of deep and shallow waters, marshes, mudflats, scrubland, and rocky patches. This distinctive mixture of habitats makes it an necessary wintering and breeding floor for each migratory and resident species.

A haven for birds and extra

Surveys have counted as many as 187 fowl species at Elathur. Come winter, the nonetheless waters flip right into a stage for hundreds of arrivals — almost 5,000 birds at their peak. Amongst them are uncommon and threatened travellers: the Steppe Eagle, listed as endangered, the River Tern and Higher Noticed Eagle, each susceptible, and near-threatened species just like the Woolly-necked Stork, Painted Stork, Oriental Darter, and Black-headed Ibis.

It isn’t solely the raptors and storks that discover refuge right here. Migratory flocks of Northern Pintails, Garganeys, Bar-headed Geese, Inexperienced-winged Teals, and Wigeons glide in to relaxation and feed, turning the lake right into a dwelling aviary via the cooler months.

And the life right here stretches properly past feathers and wings. Elathur sustains 38 species of vegetation, 35 butterflies, 12 dragonflies, 12 reptiles, seven mammals, and numerous amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Officers typically describe it as nothing lower than a “reservoir of genetic variety” that reveals the ecological wealth of Tamil Nadu.

Congratulations Tamil Nadu ! What began with a decision from the City Panchayat of Elathur in Erode has led to the Notification of Tamil Nadu’s third Biodiversity Heritage web site ! Tamil Nadu Authorities has notified Elathur Lake in Erode District, spanning 37.42 hectares, because the… pic.twitter.com/rc7OOKAZ29

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) September 1, 2025

How a small lake received huge recognition

Elathur now stands alongside Arittapatti in Madurai (declared in November 2022) and Kasampatti in Dindigul (declared in March 2025), changing into the third web site in Tamil Nadu to be given this recognition. Collectively, these locations sign a shift in the way in which the state protects its pure wealth — not simply via nationwide parks and sanctuaries, but additionally by recognising on a regular basis landscapes the place folks and wildlife reside facet by facet.

With the brand new tag comes duty. The Biodiversity Heritage Website standing permits native committees to step in, map species, set conservation guidelines, and guarantee actions that would injury the lake are stored in examine. In different phrases, it creates a protecting ring round Elathur whereas nonetheless respecting age-old group practices.

As Surroundings and Forest Secretary Supriya Sahu put it: “The intention is to carry recognition to native communities, guarantee ecological resilience, and improve conservation whereas safeguarding livelihoods.”

How folks saved the lake

The highway to heritage standing was not straightforward. The notification, issued on 28 January 2025, was the end result of persistent group and authorities collaboration. The Elathur city panchayat, birdwatchers, conservationists, and the district administration got here collectively to push for the designation.

The panchayat handed a decision in assist, later endorsed by the district collector and really helpful by the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board.

With the brand new standing, the group’s position goes past advocacy. Native birdwatchers, panchayat members, and volunteers are anticipated to contribute to biodiversity surveys, consciousness drives, and lake monitoring via the Biodiversity Administration Committee. Their on a regular basis stewardship is central to preserving Elathur thriving.

Native conservationist Deepak Venkatachalam, founding father of Suzhal Arivom, recalled the turning level. “At one level, a contractor had received the public sale to chop down dry deciduous timber, which have been roosting websites for birds. After we documented the birdlife and defined the significance, the collector cancelled it. There was additionally rampant poaching earlier. In the present day, there’s a sense of belongingness among the many group.”

A hopeful legacy

With Elathur’s addition, Tamil Nadu now counts three Biodiversity Heritage Websites on its ecological map. For the folks of Erode, the designation is greater than a title — it’s proof {that a} lake as soon as below menace could be revived when communities and governments stroll the trail collectively.

Up to now, Elathur has stayed protected from risks like industrial air pollution or encroachment. However conservationists know the work by no means ends. The lake’s survival will depend upon continued watchfulness — the fowl counts, the group patrols, the quiet care that ensures its waters stay a sanctuary.

Elathur’s journey is a reminder that defending nature shouldn’t be about grand gestures, however concerning the quiet watch of its folks. And in that, it presents hope for wetlands and fragile ecosystems throughout India.

Edited by Khushi Arora