UP wetlands may provide improved
habitats to migratory waterfowl in future
There was
a time - not so long ago, it seems – when the onset of winter brought in
its wake a great annual event, that of flock after flock of migrating
ducks and geese flying overhead. Those of us who have been interested
witnesses to this unique phenomena will never fail to remember the
feeling of happiness evoked by the sight of the V-formation of greylag
and bar-headed geese flying languorously on moonlit nights, and the
intermittent sounds of their raucous honking wafting down as they passed
overhead. Interspersed with their passage were the flocks of other
waterfowl like the teals, pintails, pochards and mallards, whose flights
seemed to be more frantic, as though they were in a hurry to reach their
destination before it was too late.
Those were
happy times, when nights were not spent in the claustrophobic confines
of modern bedrooms, but sleeping out in the open verandahs and
courtyards of sprawling homes, which gave us the opportunity of watching
these migratory birds being urged on strongly by their deep homing
instinct.
Today,
rapid urbanisation and changed lifestyles may not give us the pleasure
of sighting these migratory waterfowl in flight, but they still arrive
as they did in the past, to spend the winters in the lakes and jheels
spread across the country. It is these wetlands that are their temporary
homes for the birds, as they fly into India from the northern countries
to escape the harsh and snowy winters there.
Apart from
being important for the migratory waterfowl, the importance of wetlands
lies in the fact that they are highly productive ecosystems not only for
the migrants but also for endemic species of fauna and flora that are
dependent on them all year round. They constitute a natural system for
regulating monsoon run-offs by absorbing water and therefore reducing
flood risks. The presence of water and essential nutrients in wetlands
makes them a dynamic source of life to a huge bio-diversity that exists
within them.
Considering the importance of wetlands, both government agencies and
conservation organizations are undertaking various projects for their
conservation. One such ongoing joint project of the Ministry of
Environment & Forests and UNDP has been awarded to the Coimbatore based
Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History (SACON). This project
is aimed at identification, conservation and enhancing sustainable use
of globally significant wetlands of India, including those in Uttar
Pradesh.
Under this
project, more than 700 wetlands of over 2.25 hectares in size, will be
surveyed and mapped, and then prioritized on the basis of their water
quality and biodiversity values - mainly waterfowl, aquatic vegetation
and fish. Based on that priority, conservation measures will be launched
to enhance their quality and sustainability for the biodiversity
dependent on them.
Since the
state of Uttar Pradesh is also richly endowed with a number of wetlands
spread uniformly over all the districts, this project will go a long way
in improving the sustainability of about 30 to 50 wetlands which are
expected to qualify for selection.
It is
understandable that such a project is of a large magnitude and therefore
would require enormous manpower and inter-institutional collaboration.
In order to fulfill this requirement, SACON has invited the
participation of large number of institutions and individuals from all
over India. State-level coordinators have been identified for each
state, and have been entrusted the work of coordinating field studies in
their respective states.
For Uttar
Pradesh and Uttaranchal, this assignment will be conducted by Dr Arun
Kumar, Joint Director of the Zoological Survey of India, Dehradun. He
proposes to hold a one-day workshop at Dehradun in November, in order to
identify a set of 30-50 wetlands, as well as institutions and
individuals to carry out field studies during December 2001 and January
2002. The field study would be for a period of 3 days, to be held
simultaneously at each wetland, and involve the collection of data on
pre-determined parameters.
It would
be a good opportunity for enthusiastic individuals from across the state
to contribute to the success of this project. Maybe sometime in the
future, their contribution would help in improving the habitat of
migratory waterfowl in the state, and earn them gratitude from the
birds.