ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT TO WETLAND BIO-DIVERSITY ON MIGRATORY BIRD: A CASE STUDY OF PERI-URBAN AREA OF WEST BENGAL

Biodiversity is an important resource of environment. Wetland serves as a rich and efficient habitat for different biodiversity, especially migratory bird diversity. Wetland supports a huge numbers of plants and creatures and presents a wide range of biodiversity. But the water quality of wetland controls the gatherings of migratory birds. The main objectives of present study are to find out the threats and function of Chupi Char as a wetland. The study also focuses on the biodiversity of this wetland, specially the migratory bird diversity. In this study, the effect of water quality on migratory birds’ biodiversity was studied in Chupi Char- a wetland located at Purbasthali in Burdwan. It is a small meander of the river Bhagirathi but a small link has been seen at the time of monsoon. According to local people this wet land is newly created by the river Bhagirathi in 1988 at the time of monsoon. The study was jointly conducted through socio-economic survey and water quality testing throughout the year. The water samples were collected from different places of Chupi Char. The information about migratory birds was collected by primary survey and from socio-economic survey. Local bird guides are surveyed during the study. Tourist survey was conducted throughout the year. It is observed that Chupi Char is very important wetland in respect to different functions and economic activities of the surrounding people. The wetland is playing important role for the daily livelihood of surrounding people. But it also serves as a comfortable habitat for migratory birds in winter. For this Chupi Char is also famous as tourist spot. Winter is the most favoured season for tourism. But in present some threats like- pollution; man encroachment etc. threatened the biodiversity of migratory birds. It was also observed that the migratory birds gathering is more at the right end of the wetland where man encroachment is less and the water quality is also found satisfactory. Awareness, motivation, willingness to pay could be some indicators which may help to maintain biodiversity at a greater extent. Participatory management of the wetland is suggested for framing a better management.