Wetlands Of Assam

Topic:- Encroachment of wetlands and its conservation. A study on selected Wetlands of Assam

Introduction Wetlands are define as area of land that are either temporarily or permanently covered by water exhibit enormous diversity according to their genesis, geomorphic location, water regime and chemistry.

In Assam most of the wetlands are formed due to fluvial action of the river

Wetland harbour have a wide variety of flora fauna, all of have a great economic, aesthetic, and scientific importance.

There are 3515 wetlands identified in Assam by using satellite remote sensing technique.

Study AreasAssam

The states of Assam holds around 430 registered beels, 1192 swamps and low lying areas and 185825 lakes covering about 134134.12 hectares involving rivers

Morikolong Beel

Location :- Nagaon District

lat & Long: 26º 15´ 41´´ N to 26º 20´ 34´´ N and 92º 36´ 46´´ E to 92º 44´ 43´´ E

Area:- 578009 sq m in 2014

2001 20110500

1000150020002500

Total Popula-tion MaleFemale

Year

Popu

latio

n

Areal Change of Morikolong Beel from 1987 - 1991In the present study it is found that the area of the Morikolong Beel in 1987 was 80.49 ha which is decrease to 79.53 ha in 1991.

Area 1987 ( area in hectares)

1991 ( area in hectares)

80.49 79.53

Satellite imagery of Morikolong (1987 & 1991)

Areal Change of Morikolong Beel from 1991 - 2006

Due to the encroachment of wetland area the total area of the wetland decrease rapidly. In 1991, the total area of Morikolong beel was 79.53 ha but it decrease to 68.84 ha in 2006

Area 1991( area in hectares)

2006( area in hectares)

79.53 68.84

Satellite imagery of Morikolong (1991 & 2006)

Areal change of Morikolong Beel From 2006 - 2014Northern part of Morikolong Beel falls in urban area other of the beel fall in rural area. Due to development activities took place in the nearby place of the beel, the areal extent of the beel decrease day by day. In 2006 the total area of the beel was 68.84 ha but decrease to 57.80 ha in 2014.

Area 2006 ( Area in hec)

2014 ( area in hec)

68.84 57.80

Area50

55

60

65

70

20062014

Areal Extension of Morikolong Beel

From the above table it is clear that the area of the Morikolong beel shows in decreasing trend. From 1987 the Area was 80.49 ha which decrease to 57.80 ha in 2014.

Area 1987 (area in

hec)

1991 (area in

hec)

2006 (area in

hec)

2014 (area in

hec)80.49 79.53 68.84 57.80

Deepor Beel

Location:- Kamrup DistrictLat & Long:- 26 03 26 N to 26 9 26 N and 90 36 93 E to 90 41 25 EArea:- 414 hectares

Areal change of Deepor beel

1990 1997 2007

Name of The

Wetland

Area (ha)

Area (%)

Area (ha)

Area (%)

Area (ha)

Area (%)

Change %

(1997-2007)

Deepor Beel

961.7 33.5 424.3 14.77 356.3

12.4 -21.1

In 1990 the total area of Deepor Beel was 961.7 ha. While in the year 1997 it has decreased to 424.3. ha. Whereas it has decreased to 356.3 ha.

Deepor Beel0100200300400500600700800900

1000

199019972007

Areal change of Deepor Beel from 1990 -2007

Area

in H

ecta

res

Problems

Due to encroachment of wetland area the total area of the wetland decrease rapidly.

Silsako WetlandLocation:- Eatern periphery of Guwahati

Lat & Long:- 26º 10´ N and 91º 0´ E

Area:- 407 ha

Base map of Silsako Wetland

Areal extension of Silsako Wetland

In the year 1912-13 the total wetland area of the silsako was 1758.47 ha. In 1967-68 the total wetland area decline to 407.07 ha. Where as in 2001 it decline 340.20 ha.

Name of Wetland

1912-13 1967-68 2001

Silsako 1758.47 ha 407.07 ha 340.20 ha

Silsako Wetland0

500100015002000

1912-131967-682001

Problems

Human encroachment.

Higher level of pollution. Siltation .

Urbanization

Numalijala Wetland

Location:- Northern Boundary of GuwahatiArea:- 438.68 ha

Base map of Numalijalah

Areal Extension of Numalijalah Wetland

In the year 1912-13 the area of the Numalijala Wetland was 878.85 ha. In the year 1967-68 the total area decline to 433.68 ha. Where as in 2001 it Decline to 85.25 ha.

Name of Wetland

1912-13 1967-68 2001

Numalijalah

878.85 ha 433.68 ha 85.25 ha

Numalijalah Wet-land

0

400

800 1912-131967-682001

Measures of the problems

Adoption and formulation of state govt. policies.

Protection of boundaries and demarcation of boundaries.

Realising the gravity of encroachment problem in the beel areas.

Control of commercial fishing

Control of exploitation of aquatic flora and fauna

Extension survey and quantification of flora and identification of threatened species

General awareness

conclusion

Although these wetlands are potentially very rich in various aquatic resources , these wetlands, however constitute a fast disappearing habitats. They are presently facing serious threat to its survival mainly due to siltation by flood and various human activities. It is therefore and imperative need to conserve the wetlands especially to enrich the geo-environmental quality of the region and appropriate conservation measure to properly conserve the wetlands for the benefit of the present as well as future generation.

Reference

• Research paper on Wetlands of Assam.

• The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies.

• Internet

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