BIODIVERSITY, BIOCLEANSING AND ANTHROPOGENICACTIVITIES ON THE TWO TOURIST BEACHES OF RAIGAD,MAHARASHTRA, INDIAG.P. Pawar and A.B. TelaveAbstract Sandy beaches play an important role in tourism by their recreational value and maintain ecological balancein coastal environment. They provide nursery ground to floral, faunal diversity and also livelihood to localvillagers by tourism. In the present study two rural, tourist beaches of Raigad, Maharashtra, i.e. Revdandaand Kashid, selected for their sand dune flora, fauna and anthropogenic activities study. A field survey iscarried out in the month March to September 2021 and 52 sand dune plant species with 5 avifaunal speciesare recorded from the study sites. The various biocleansing agents and their feeding activities were noted.During survey, different anthropogenic activities are recorded and found that plastic and alcoholic beverageswaste is major problem on both beaches. The present study highlights the importance of biocleansingagents regarding recreational values of beaches, and also brings attention towards anthropogenic activitiesof study sites. The present study recommended that, urgent steps taken against beach pollution and preventsits negative impacts on coastal ecology. |