An ecological survey of the Trans-Himalayan wetlands of the proposed Changthang Biosphere Reserve, India, for conservation planning

• Hussain S.A.

  Wildlife Institute of India

• Singh R.K.

  Wildlife Trust of India

• Badola Ruchi

  Wildlife Institute of India

Abstract

We examined the water quality of seven lakes and associated marshes and the extent of their use by breeding birds, mammals of conservation significance as well as human in the southwestern Tibetan plateau of Changthang, Ladakh. The assessment revealed that the physical and aggregate properties, inorganic nonmetals and metals in the water of the lakes were significantly different from each other. The physical and chemical properties of the lakes have changed since the first limnological study conducted in 1932, largely due to increasing anthropogenic factors. During the study 16 species of water birds were recorded from the area, of which seven species were breeding. The Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus was found nesting at almost all of the lakes. The mean encounter rate of Bar-headed Goose varied between 3.5 to 17 km^-1 among lakes, where as for Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea it was 1 to 58 km^-1. The area has high biodiversity value in terms of habitat for mammals of conservation significance. Among the eight identified human use parameters, which could pose threat to the integrity of these lakes and associated wetlands are: uncontrolled tourism, excessive grazing by livestock, biomass extraction and diversion of stream water for agricultural purpose. The overall disturbance regime was highest for Tso Kar and Tso Moriri. Recognizing the conservation significance of the area, the Indian Changthang has been declared as a Protected Area, forbidding any form of resource extraction and only limited tourism. However, because of lack of alternative livelihood options, local people are forced to depend on the scarce natural resources and the declaration of the PA has been ineffective. Proposal to declare the area as a Biosphere Reserve is a welcome step, but ultimately it is the complementarity of conservation and development at the landscape level that will secure the sustainability of this fragile ecosystem.

Journal

• Biosphere conservation : for nature, wildlife, and humans

  Biosphere conservation : for nature, wildlife, and humans 9 (1), 53-63, 2008

  Association of Wildlife and Human Society

Keywords

• Ladakh
• Trans-Himalayan lakes
• water quality
• breeding bird abundance
• human use impacts

Details

• CRID: 1390001206094541568
• NII Article ID: 110006987282
• NII Book ID: AA11499342
• DOI: 10.20798/biospherecons.9.1_53
• ISSN: 24331260
• ISSN: 13446797
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed