HIGH ALTITUDE WETLANDS IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH: A REVIEW ON ITS IMPORTANCE AND WAY FORWARD FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Arunachal Pradesh (26° 40’- 29°27’N,91° 35’-97°24E), the land of the dawn-lit mountains is a region to the easternmost part of India. One of the most important biomes that this region has is the wetlands which if blessed with a healthy aquatic plants and animals. In a general term wetlands are water bodies which are inundated by large water body either permanently or seasonally. Arunachal Pradesh ranks second and has 2653 identified high altitude wetlands, after Jammu and Kashmir in number. Of all the wetlands, 1672 wetlands have more than 2.25 hectare of land areas according to National Wetland Inventory and Assessment, 2011. Wetlands are blessed with a sufficient area for flourishing high altitude with a splendid biodiversity of this part of region. In terms of ecological perspective these wetlands are very important and also from religious point of view. Many of the tribal communities residing here consider the wetland and lakes as sacred sites and are being used for different rituals. On the basis of altitude the wetlands of Arunachal Pradesh can be divided into High Altitude Wetlands and Low Altitude wetlands. In the recent times due to a high pressure for grazing grounds, exploitation of pristine forest resources, a high unregulated dumping of waste, soil and water pollution, different unauthorised construction for different developmental activities and settlement are some of the major threats being observed in the High Altitude Wetlands. An attempt will be made to identify high altitude lakes and wetlands in the state and its importance on the eastern Himalayan region. Moreover, special attention will be focused on conservation and management of high altitude wetlands from Govt side and NGOs.