PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 91: Aquatic Ecology: Wetland Management; Stream Chemistry
Wednesday, August 10, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 513 A, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Conservation and management of wetlands through integrated approach of water resources and species management: A case study from Bhindawas Wild Life Bird Sanctuary, District Jhajjar, Haryana, India.
SAXENA, VIVEK*,,
ABSTRACT- Bhindawas bird sanctuary is a manmade wetland eco-system carved out from marshy saucer shaped depression, which collects water from the vast stretches of agricultural field of twelve villages. The basic objective of the lake is to preserve the wetland eco-system and to develop it for the conservation of local and migratory avifauna. For meeting above objective, it is necessary, that the area should be rich in species diversity, so that a large number of birds are attracted. The Sanctuary is spread over an area of 1074 acres. The peripheral embankment is man made and basically constructed to store the escaped water of Jawaharlal Nehru canal through an escape channel at the time of power failure of Lift Canal System. The Bhindawas lake is being used by the migratory and resident birds of about 250 species. The most important problem has been the drying up of this lake in periods of lean rainfall and/or shortage of water in the nearby canal. The lake water is dependent on rainfall, which has been quite-low in recent past except during current year due to good monsoon rains. The paper analyses the efforts made for integrated conservation and management by constructing bunds and planting with suitable soil binding species, water management through out the season by ensuring minimum optimum water level, planting of suitable plant species, extension activities, involvement of local people, etc. The management efforts have resulted in increased arrival of winged visitors during the season. The integrated approach of water resources and species management has resulted in better attainment of objectives of wetland management .
Key words: Sanctuary, wetland, Conservation