Syllabus: GS-III & V– Conservation

Why in the News?

Wetlands in Assam are under severe ecological stress due to pollution, encroachment, and habitat degradation. 

Importance of Wetlands in Assam

• Wetlands in Assam are among the most ecologically significant ecosystems, functioning as natural flood buffers, biodiversity hotspots, and livelihood providers.
• Assam has an estimated 4,861 natural wetlands, including beels, marshes, oxbow lakes, swamps, and riverine floodplain systems hydrologically connected to the Brahmaputra-Barak river system.
• These wetlands serve as primordial nurseries for aquatic biodiversity, including the Small Indigenous Freshwater Fish (SIFF), a vital component of local diets and cultural heritage.
• Assam harbours 216 SIFF species, the highest in India, contributing to ecological balance, nutrient cycles, and community nutrition.
• SIFF species such as Amblypharyngodon mola, Esomus danricus, and Puntius sophore provide exceptional micronutrients including Vitamin A, D, E, B-complex, calcium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.
  

Wetland Ecosystem Services

• Flood control: Wetlands naturally absorb and store floodwaters, reduce flood peaks, and recharge groundwater.
• Biodiversity: They support aquatic plants, migratory birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and microorganisms.
• Livelihoods: Communities depend on wetlands for fishing, grazing, fodder, fuel, edible plants, and cultural activities.
• Water purification: Wetlands filter pollutants, trap sediments, and improve water quality.
• Climate resilience: They sequester carbon, regulate temperature, and mitigate climate impacts.
  

Threats and Challenges to Wetlands in Assam

• Encroachment and land-use change, including real-estate expansion and agriculture.
• Pollution from urban drains, solid waste dumping, and untreated effluents (e.g., Deepor Beel).
• Siltation, sedimentation, and erosion from degraded catchments.
• Agrochemical contamination from pesticide- and fertilizer-laden runoff.
• Unregulated fishing practices, including destructive gear and overfishing.
• Invasive species proliferation, altering the natural food web.
• Hydrological disruption due to embankments, roads, and wetland fragmentation.
• Climate change, leading to erratic floods, droughts, and habitat instability.
  

Wetlands as a Solution to Assam’s Flood Crisis

• The Assam government has proposed a major paradigm shift—integrating wetlands into a scientific floodwater diversion strategy.
• Nine wetlands across Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Tezpur, and Majuli have been identified as natural reservoirs for Brahmaputra floodwaters.
• A survey by NESAC found 271 wetlands suitable for such diversion, capable of storing over 220 lakh cubic meters of floodwater.
• NESAC estimates that flood peaks can be reduced by 20%–80% in specific river systems through wetland-based diversion.
• Stored water can support irrigation, hydro-ecological restoration, fishery development, and even industrial uses in water-deficit areas.
• Such initiatives align with the Union Government’s suggestion of constructing large ponds to store floodwaters in the Northeast.
  

Government Frameworks Supporting Wetland Conservation

• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 under the Environment Protection Act.
• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA).
• National Mission for Clean Ganga and Jal Shakti initiatives.
• Matsya Sampada Yojana for inland fisheries enhancement.
• Assam State Action Plan on Climate Change.
• Biodiversity Act, 2002 for community-level conservation through Biodiversity Management Committees.
  

Strategies for Wetland and SIFF Conservation

• Scientific restoration of degraded wetlands through hydrological reconnection and vegetation revival.
• Protection of catchments and drainage channels, especially those linked to Brahmaputra tributaries.
• Legislative enforcement to prevent encroachment and pollution.
• Community-led management through local cooperatives, youth groups, and women’s SHGs.
• Species-specific conservation plans, including SIFF broodstock maintenance and captive propagation.
• Integration with livelihood missions, eco-tourism, pisciculture, and climate-resilient farming systems.
• Strengthening monitoring using satellite mapping, biodiversity audits, and citizen science platforms.

Key Facts About Assam’s Wetlands 

General Wetland Statistics

• Assam has 690 lakes and ponds, covering 15,494 ha, which is:
  • 0.20% of Assam’s total geographical area.
  • 15.30% of the state’s total wetland area.
• The smallest lake/pond: 2.50 ha.
• The largest lake/pond: 882.50 ha.
• Most of these wetlands have low-turbidity water, indicating relatively clear conditions.

• Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre (ARSAC) identified 3,513 wetlands across Assam.
  • This includes beels, marshes, ponds, oxbow lakes, riverine wetlands, and man-made water bodies.

District-wise Distribution of Wetlands in Assam

Important Wetlands of Assam 

1. Son Beel — in Sribhumi district 

• Assam’s largest wetland.
• One of Asia’s largest seasonal freshwater lakes.
  

2. Deepor Beel — Kamrup (Metropolitan)

• Assam’s Only Ramsar Site (declared in 2002).
• Facing threats from:
  • Pollution (Bharalu & Bahini drains),
  • Solid waste dumping ground,
  • Habitat fragmentation.

3. Maguri Motapung Beel — Tinsukia

• Located near Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
• A globally important wetland for migratory birds.
• Threatened by:
  • Overfishing,
  • Heavy siltation,
  • Mountain floods,
  • Oil exploration activities (notably, the 2020 Baghjan blowout).

4. Urpad Beel — Goalpara

• One of Western Assam’s major wetlands.
• Fed by Jinari River (a south-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra originating in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya).
  

Key Concepts Explained 

• Wetland: A transitional ecosystem between terrestrial and aquatic zones with hydric soils and water-saturated vegetation.
• Oxbow lake: A U-shaped water body formed by the meandering and cut-off of a river channel.
• Small Indigenous Freshwater Fish (SIFF): Small-sized native fish species with high nutritional and ecological value.
• Eutrophication: Excessive nutrient loading leading to algal bloom and oxygen depletion.
• Hydrological connectivity: The natural flow linkage between wetlands and rivers essential for ecological functioning.
• Floodwater diversion wetlands: Natural or designated wetlands used to store and slow down floodwaters during peak rainfall.
  

Conclusion

Wetlands are not wastelands; they are ecological treasuries that protect biodiversity, mitigate floods, support nutrition, and sustain livelihoods. Assam’s synchronized strategy of wetland conservation, SIFF protection, and wetland-based flood management can secure long-term ecological resilience and human well-being. The future of Assam depends on restoring these ecosystems before ecological erosion becomes irreversible.

Exam Hook: Mains Question

“Discuss the ecological and livelihood significance of wetlands in Assam. How can wetland-based floodwater diversion be integrated into sustainable flood management strategies?”

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