Sada of Konkan 

News: The sada in the Konkan region are increasingly at risk due to changing land-use patterns, mining, and misclassification as ‘wasteland’ in the Wasteland Atlas. 

About Sada of Konkan

• The sada refers to large flat-topped areas formed by centuries of erosion.
• It is located in the Konkan region between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. 
• They are typically barren for most of the year but transform during the monsoon, much like the pathar plateaux in the Satara district of Maharashtra (e.g., Kaas Plateau). 
• The sada supports a rich biodiversity, especially during the monsoon. 

Significance of the Sada 

• Small patches of sada are used for cultivating rice and millets (e.g., nanchani/Eleusine coracana) using traditional, eco-friendly practices without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. 
• The sada’s geology plays a key role in freshwater availability.  
• Its weathered lateritic soil acts as a rainwater catchment and recharges groundwater. 
• Villages in these areas have access to perennial freshwater through step wells, dug wells, springs, and streams. 
• The water bodies support freshwater turtles like the vulnerable Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) and act as water sources for wildlife such as leopards, jackals, hyenas, barking deer, and migratory birds. 
• The sada hosts 10,000-year-old geoglyphs, which are significant works of ancient art. 
• Community rituals often involve the conservation of water sources and hygiene practices.

Threats to the Sada 

• Changing land-use patterns: Conversion of open land and croplands into orchards and residential areas. Also, developmental projects are encroaching on these habitats. 
• Mining activities: Laterite stone mining is a growing concern. 
• Classification as wasteland: The Wasteland Atlas categorizes sada as ‘wasteland,’ further undermining its ecological and cultural significance.