WETLANDS BIODIVERSITY IN RAJASTHAN

Geographically Rajasthan is an arid and semi arid part of India : two third of its area is covered by such physical features. The annual normal rainfall of the state is 575 mm, out of which 75 to 95% of rainfall mostly precipitates in the monsoon period i.e. from 1 June to 30 September. The normal rainfall of the state for monsoon period is 533 mm.

Scarcity conditions have taught people sustainable living and water harvesting as a daily feature of people can be traced to time immemorial. Traditionally, they are of four categories :

a) Village wells : Each village used to have more than one well, dug by people themselves. Each community maintained its well and ensured that its water was not put to misuse.
b) Personal 'tanka' : Each household in villages enjoyed a personal tank (called 'tanka' in local parlance) which was at a corner of house and developed in a manner that rain water would automatically flow into it to recharge its quantity. If it was short of water, people would fetch water from the village reservoir or a well to replenish it.
c) Village 'nadi' (reservoir) : Each village had one or more such water body. It was rain water deposited in depressions around the village. It was for common use by all, people and cattle. The village body ensured that such an open water body was respected.
d) Tanks or Dams : They were created by princes who ruled the state in those days, and were for irrigation purposes as well. More such tanks were created by the government after independence.

Types of Wetlands
Rajasthan's Wetlands can be classified as :
(a) River system, (b) Playas, and (c) Man-made Reservoirs

a) River system

There are only two perennial rivers in Rajasthan : Chambal, and Mahi though there are numerous seasonal rivers. Both are of far reaching benefits to people. Each one has been adequately dammed and network of canals developed for irrigation benefits at distant places. Their ecological quantification is, however, yet to be attempted

b) Playas

The important palayas are confined to western Rajasthan including the Ramsar Site of Sambhar Lake. Other important palayas are : Kuchaman, Deedwana, Rewasa, Kanod, Baramsar, That etc.

c) Man-made reservoirs

These are generally confined to the eastern part of the State and were necessitated by the ephemeral nature of water system. They vary in size and depth of water in various ways. The prominent ones are :
1.Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, Chittorgarh
2.Raj Samand, Rajsamand
3.Sadarsamand, Jodhpur
4.Guda, Bundi
5.Jawai, Pali
6.Gambhiri, Chittorgarh
7.Meja, Bhilwara
8.Morel, Sawai Madhopur
9.Parvati, Dholpur etc.

Wetland Priorities

Four priorities have been evolved for the State’s wetlands for long term conservation objectives keeping in view the avian biodiversity, and only the potential ones have been described here viz.

1. Reservoirs which support 10,000 or more waterfowl at any time of the year.

2.Wetlands where regular breeding has been recorded.

3.Wetlands representative of a specialized kind of habitat --  salt lakes  --  unique not only in their physical and chemical attributes but also support specialized avian group of Flamingos and Waders.

Wetlands where the threatened  species have been recorded.

Avifaunal Significance

River System : They support some important aquatic species eg River Dolphin, Gavial, Smooth Indian Otter, Turtles besides about abundant and several fish varieties, and numerous bird species.

The hallmark avifauna along the rivers include : Indian Skimmer, Sarus Crane, Woolynecked Stork, Herons, Cormorants, Terns, Plovers etc.

Playas : These are mainly confined to western Rajasthan. Although ephemeral, they support both the migratory as well as resident species of avifauna. At some of these bodies, resident species also breed.

Sambhar, Rewasa, Phulera, Baramsar, Kanod etc are notable among Playas..

Man-made Reservoirs : The characteristic feature identified for enumerating such water bodies is based on dynamics of aquatic life, coupled with the vegetation around them that supports the avifauna. The prominent reservoirs are :

1.Ajmer
Ramsar, Ana Sagar, Kamsar, Aheran, Dund, and Phulsagar (Kishangarh), Phulsagar (Beawar)

2.Alwar
Jaisagar, Mangalsar, Mansarovar, Jaisamand

3.Baran
Ratai (Shahbad). The Kalisindh and Parvati rivers

4.Barmer
Kagoda (near Agawada village)

5.Banswara
Mahi reservoir, Suwania, Haro, Talwara. Mahi river supports breeding.

6.Bharatpur
Keoladeo National Park, Ajan Bund, Bund Baretha

7.Bhilwara
Meja

8.Bikaner
Indira Gandhi Nahar and RDs

9.Bundi
Guda, Bardha, Kanaksagar, Dhaneshwar, Abhaipura.

10.Chittorgarh
Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar, Bhopalsagar, Orai, Gambhiri, Menal, Talaia and Mahi

11.Churu
Tal Chhapar

12. Dausa
Kalakho, Sainthal

13.Dholpur
Urmila Sagar, Talab-I-Shahi, Ramsagar, Parvati Bund.

14.Dungarpur
Lodeshwar and Lakshman Sagar

15.Hanumangarh
Badopal and IG Nahar

16.Jaipur
Phulera, Chhaparwada

17.Jaisalmer
Kanod, Baramsar and That

18.Jodhpur
Agolai

19.Karauli
Panchana

20.Kota
Alnia, Umaid Sagar, Kota Barrage, Udupi  and Chambal river.

17.Nagaur
Deedwana, Kuchaman

18.Pali
Jawai, Sardar Samand, Hemawas, Kharda

19.Raj Samand
Raj Samand, Kumbhalgarh, Nand Samand (?)

20.Sawai Madhopur
Morel, Deel Sagar, Bhagwatgarh, Surwal, Devpura, Mansarovar.

21.Sikar
Rewasa

22.Sirohi
Oda, West Banas and Dantiwara

23.Tonk
Tordi Sagar, Chandsen, Galwania, Galwa, Bisalpur

24.Udaipur
Mataji ka Khera, Sei, Udaisagar, Fateh Sagar, Pichhola-Sarup Sagar, Badi, Badgaon, Vallasbhnagar, Sad Samand (?)

Threatened Breeding Avifauna
Following are the resident bird species which are under severe threat (BirdLife International criterion) and have been observed breeding at some of the wetlands listed in this report :

1.Blackbellied Tern
2.Blackheaded Ibis
3.Blacknecked Stork
4.Painted Stork
5.Indian Skimmer
6.Sarus Crane

Threatened Migrants Avifauna

Following are the migrant species under severe threat (BirdLife International criterion) reported at some of the wetlands listed in this report :
1.Siberian Crane
2.Marbled Teal
3.Dalmatian Pelican
4.Lesser Flamingo
5.Ferruginous Duck

Waterfowl observed in the State (breeding* and non-breeding)

Raptors

Following are the raptors which are under severe threat (BirdLife International) and associated with  the  State’s wetlands  :
1.Greater Spotted Eagle
2.Imperial Eagle.

Disturbances & Threats to Wetlands
Drastic changes are being observed across the wetlands in Rajasthan. They are owing to :
(a)land use changes (b) tampering with the watershed and catchment areas (c) excessive draining for agricultural purposes (d) paucity of rainfall (e) illegal occupation of beds of lakes/reservoirs for development purposes (f) fishing exceeding the licensed capacity (g) extraction of aquatic vegetation (h) impact of exotic vegetation

(i) pollution of watersheds (j) contamination of water bodies due to pesticide/insecticide/fertilizer  uses 
(k) inadequate legislation for water bodies eg Sambhar Lake, a Ramsar Site, has no legal protection.

Immediate Attention for Conservation

Some wetlands and the species dependent upon them call for an immediate attention because each water body represents a certain type of habitat to support number of species vis a vis their total numbers. Following are the breeding species which have been categorised as calling for Immediate Attention for their conservation.

Avifauna Breeding in State
1.Blackbellied  Tern : Breeds on the islets of the Chambal river.
2.Blackheaded Ibis :  Breeding at several wetlands.
3.Blacknecked Stork : Breeds in very restricted wetland habitats eg Keoladeo National Park, Kota etc.
4.Painted Stork : Breeding getting more restricted in some wetlands eg Keoladeo National Park and water bodies of Kota-Jhalawar.
5.Indian Skimmer : Breeding getting restricted to the islets of Chambal  river which are being encroached by melon growers.
6.Sarus Crane : Breeding becoming restricted around water bodies due to draining, encroachment,  egg stealing, and increasing poaching. Even the canal land (Kota and Bundi) are being encroached by new settlers. Chemical contamination is a new threat faced by the species.

Avifauna Migratory to State
1.Siberian Crane : Breeding biology getting disturbed besides poaching along the fly way (Afghanistan and Pakistan). 2.Marbled Teal : Facing global decline due to various factors.
3.Dalmatian Pelican : Facing global decline; over exploitation of the fish in water bodies needs to be checked.
4.Lesser Flamingo : Facing decline due to habitat loss -- the wintering sites being put to commercial uses. The most important wintering site, Sambhar Lake enjoys no legal conservation status despite it being Ramsar Site (of international importance for waterfowl) : the main lake any day be leased out for salt manufacturing by the Government.
5.Ferruginous Duck : Getting globally threatened.

Conservation Strategy for Wetlands of State
There has been hardly any precedent for an exercise initiated to formulate strategy towards conservation of wetlands. The level of awareness about such water bodies among the decision makers is largely nonexistent barring the objective of storing water for irrigation and drinking water purposes. The development oriented programmes, initiated by the Government which are influenced by overseas funding organisations, have slighted the traditional respect which the wetlands and water bodies have been enjoying in the social fabric. Wetlands yield numerous benefits to the agriculture-cycle and need to be considered of phenomenal value addition to the economy of the State.

It is suggested that an inter-departmental working group should be set up to evolve an integrated strategy for effective conservation and protection of wetlands, and; Rajasthan can take the needed initiative to this effect to set a new precedent in the country.
All the breeding sites of birds serve as parameters for natural-health of wetlands. An inventory of wetlands –  traditionally known heronries, other sites registering breeding, recording migration, and those lying nondescript – is of prime consequence to map out the crucial water resources of the State.

Suggestions
There is no nodal agency for integrated management of wetlands and Irrigation Department ensures storage and release of water to agriculturists only. It is yet to be introduced to water-shed and catchment-development nuances. It has no structure to assess, gauge, and check the pollutants that flow into tanks administered by it. The chemical pollutants are causing indescribably damage to the agriculture system which ultimately causes human health hazards.

Likewise, the role of Forest Department needs to be linked with the development of water-shed and catchment zones of the wetlands of prime importance. It needs to be suitably armed to tackle the chemicals flowing into water bodies so as to evolve a healthy ecological order for nature as well as people and cattle wealth.

The existing pattern of Watershed Development Programme of the Government needs to be appraised keeping spread over benefits from wetlands, and complications being faced by such bodies for want of such an initiative.

By
Harkirat Singh Sangha and Harsh Vardhan
(email : giisj_jp1@sancharnet.in)