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Rise of species props up biodiversity
KATHMANDU, JUL 25 -
The biodiversity conservation in Ghodaghodi Lake Complex (GLC) in Kailali district, one of the Ramsar Sites of the country, is improving with the increase in the number of three major indicator species this year, according to officials.
Indicator species are the components required for any wetlands to be listed in Ramsar Sites that recognise internationally important wetlands of the world and the indicator species ensure the health of ecosystem for the wetlands.
The government, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme and Global Environment Facility, has been implementing the multi-million project on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands since 2008 in two Ramsar Sites—GLC and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in Sunsari.
Ananta Bhandari, field manager for GLC, said the regular summer monitoring of two faunal indicator species namely Cotton Pigmy Goose locally known as Hari Hans and Marsh Mugger Crocodile in GLC were found increased from 139 to 180 and 1 to 3 adults respectively this year compared to last year.
Similarly, the Wild Rice is found stretched to around 3.6 hectares on the lake premises. Meanwhile, for the first time in Nepal breeding of Common Moorhen, a winter visitor bird was recorded in GLA this July, according to Bhandari.
Hem Sagar Baral, ornithologist and consultant for the project, says, Ghodaghodi Lake is gradually turning into an important breeding habitat for animals. “The breeding of two major species and increasing number of other indicator species suggest that the habitat is satisfactory,” he said.
Despite being the most productive ecosystem on Earth, most wetlands of the country are facing various problems including habitat disturbance.
According to Bhandari, awareness campaigns on anti-poaching activities along with capacity building programmes at the local level are being strengthened and conducted as a part of the project. Similarly, floating islands are established for better habitats for the aquatic animals on the surface of the lake.
“However, the habitat disturbance in the site is not significantly controlled and still stringent actions are needed for sustainable management of the wetlands,” he said.
Posted on: 2010-07-26 08:34
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