Ecosystem Services of Riverine Wetlands with Special Reference to the Upper Brahmaputra Basin

• Published in: The Indian journal of agricultural economics 2022-09, Vol.77 (3), p.521-529
• Main Authors: Biswas, S P, Singh, A Santoshkumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agrochemicals; Alkalinity; Aquatic animals; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic fauna; Aquatic organisms; Aquatic plants; Biodegradable materials; Biodegradation; Biodiversity; Catchments; Climate Change; Commercial fishing; Contamination; Deforestation; Drinking water; Economic importance; Ecosystem services; Ecosystems; Embankments; Fish; fish fauna; Fisheries; Fishing; Flood damage; Flood-plain lakes; Floodplains; Flora; Freshwater resources; Habitats; Industrialization; Lakes; Oxbow lakes; Pesticides; Productivity Analysis; Rainfall; Reduction; Rice fields; River beds; River ecology; Rivers; Road construction; Seasons; Solid waste disposal; Solid wastes; Tanks; Tectonics; Upper Brahmaputra basin; Urbanization; Water; Water quality; Water temperature; Wetland management; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0019-5014
• DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.345201

Floodplain wetlands in the Upper Brahmaputra basin (UBB), locally known as beel are biologically rich and highly productive ecosystems that support myriads of aquatic flora and fauna. Covering an area of about 0.1 million ha, the wetlands of the area are five major types (a) oxbow lakes, (b) tectonic lakes, (c) man-made tanks, (d) low-lying paddy fields, and (e) seasonal pools. In addition to flood-plain lakes, there are man-made tanks that have tremendous ecological and economic importance. High fishing pressure and climatic variability of the region have experienced a significant reduction in the wetland bio-resources. Deforestation in the catchments, construction of roads and embankments and blockage of feeder channels of floodplain lakes also contributed to the reduction of habitat complexity. Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation led to the crumbling of water quality and shrinking of biodiversity by abuse and contamination of freshwater resources. Further, improper disposal of solid waste and non-biodegradable materials and contamination of natural water bodies by agricultural pesticides, injudicious mining from river-bed have also complicated aquatic life. The present study reviews the status of the floodplain wetlands in the Upper Brahmaputra basin, their bio-resources as well as economic and ecological services rendered by them. It also synthesises the updated knowledge and analyses the challenging issues of wetland management in the context of changing temperature and rainfall patterns.