The present study dovetailed to study the multi various ecosystem services provided by Koothapar big tank wetland in Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu, India and investigate its scope and importance by ranking it. It further aimed to study the drivers of deterioration of it and then to explore further, the attitude of stakeholders towards the conservation of wetland was studied. Thus, the study is wholesome to understand the present scenario of wetland, scope for its improvement and also for future research in this domain. From the study area, 110 farmers (50 agricultural, 20 cow grazing, 20 goat and sheep grazing and 20 farmers engaged in aquaculture) and 50 residents were selected randomly by adopting a multipurpose random sampling method. The primary data were collected from 160 respondents. The percentage analysis results revealed that irrigation was the major ecosystem service which ranked first with 99 per cent, household sewage and solid waste dump were ranked as the major driver that deteriorated the wetland most with 86 per cent and 72 per cent of the respondents were interested to get involved in protection and conservation activities. It was concluded that encroachment should be removed to increase the wetland size resulting in an increase in the benefits from ecosystem services. Installation of sewage treatment will prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and pollution of the tank water. The Government should take initiatives to restore the Koothapar big tank wetland with eco-tourism and avail facilities of boating, walking tracks, herbal plantation and theme parks.

Koothapar big tank, ranking, ecosystem services, drivers of deterioration, percentage analysis, and eco-tourism

Wetlands provide enormous beneficial services to the community people. The common-pool resources such as tanks form an important source of livelihood activities such as agriculture in the form of irrigation water, silted soil, and livestock rearing for millions of rural people in India. In recent decades, the wetlands are deteriorated due to biotic and abiotic threats. The Koothapar big tank wetland is one of the four prioritized wetlands in the Tiruchirappalli district and most of the farmers benefited through this tank are small and marginal. This study was conducted to throw light on different ecosystem services provided by the Koothapar big tank wetland and the drivers that deteriorate the tank. The empirical results of the study concluded that irrigation was the major ecosystem service which ranked first with 99 per cent, household sewage and solid waste dump were ranked as the major driver that deteriorated the wetland most with 86 per cent each and 72 per cent of the respondents were interested to get involved in protection and conservation activities. Results of the study recommended that encroachment should be removed to increase the wetland size resulting in an increase in the benefits from ecosystem services. Installation of sewage treatment will prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and pollution of the tank water. Currently, The Koothapar big tank wetland is managed by a single government agency i.e. Public Works Department. For efficient, equitable and sustainable management of wetlands, collective action from various lines departments such as Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority(TNSWA), Forest Department and Fishery Department should be required. The extension programmes should be conducted by TNSWA, Forest Department and NGOs to promote awareness of wetlands services, functional benefits and threats among the stakeholders. The Government should take initiatives to restore the Koothapar big tank wetland to eco-tourism and avail facilities of boating, walking tracks, herbal plantation and theme parks.

Mangaiyarkarasi N., J.S. Amarnath, M. Anjugam, B. Sivasankari and R. Balaji (2023). Ranking of Ecosystem Services and Drivers of Deterioration of Koothapar Big Tank Wetland in Tiruchirappalli District. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8): 531-536.