A Survey of Major Threats and Management Guidelines for Conservation to Wetlands Distributed among Ujani Backwater, Maharashtra, India

Author: Digvijay S. Kumbhar and Dnyandeo K. Mhaske

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Abstract

Wetlands are unique, productive ecosystems where two major ecosystems viz., terrestrial and aquatic habitats meet. Wetlands are the “Biological supermarkets”, as they accommodate vast biodiversity with innumerable food webs. Any wetland site which regularly holds 1% or more of a water bird population is considered as an internationally important site under the Ramsar convention on wetlands. Wetlands are constantly under serious threats of loss and destruction owing to anthropogenic activities. In the current scenario, less than 50% of wetlands remain in India, are vanishing at a rate of 2-3% every year. The present study was conducted from 2015 to 2018 with constant surveying and monitoring. Various threats were recorded from fifteen wetland sites under study (S-1 to S-15), viz., excessive fishing, grazing and washing of livestock, fuel wood collection, water quality, siltation, weed invasion, agricultural expansion, pollution and sand mining were observed in and around the sampling sites. Among them, agricultural expansion, agricultural runoff, sand mining and weed invasion are the major challenges. After reporting severe threats, public awareness was created by organizing awareness programmes as well as several recommendations were suggested in order to conserve and restore the wetlands associated to Ujani reservoir.

Keywords

Anthropogenic activities, Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Ramsar convention, Ujani Reservoir, Wetland

Conclusion

Almost all the sampling sites were affected by more or less a number of threats, which will have a negative impact on bird diversity and species richness in near future. Ujani wetlands provides nesting sites for near-threatened waterbird species, Painted Stork and White-naked Stork. As far as pollution status of the reservoir is concerned, most of the wetlands are on the way of eutrophication, protection of such wetlands is the need of time. Strict implementation of laws and constant surveillance, social awareness among villagers around Ujani reservoir about the sustainable use of such a great natural resource will be appropriate measure in this regard. The present work will helpful to identify the heronry sites among the bank of reservoir as well as to study the wetland avifaunal diversity.

References

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How to cite this article

Digvijay S. Kumbhar and Dnyandeo K. Mhaske (2023). A Survey of Major Threats and Management Guidelines for Conservation to Wetlands Distributed among Ujani Backwater, Maharashtra, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2): 89-93.