Sunday, December 19, 2010

Beeshazar Tal

Beeshazar Tal_Tilak
Introduction
Beeshazar Tal is a Ramsar site (number 1313 and WDPA code: 901297) in central Nepal. It is located 8 km south from Tikauli on the east-west highway in Gitanagar VDC of Chitwan district encompassing two municipalities, Bharatpur and Ratnanagar, and two VDCs, Gitanagar and Bachhauli Coordinates. This Ramsar site was established in August 2003 which covers an area of 3,200 ha in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park adjacent to Khageri Irrigation canal and is situated between the Mahabharat mountain range to the north and the Siwalikrange to the south at an altitude of 286 metres,( Bhuju, 2007). The area of Beesazar Tal to be 100 ha and it’s maximum depth is 6 miters and average depth is 3 miters (Bhandari 1998b).This Ramsar site forms an extensive oxbow lakesystem, typical of the tropical Inner Terai area. The surrounding forest area is home to an estimated 100,000 people who farm and fish in the lake.
Fauna:- The forested wetland provides excellent habitat as a waterhole and wildlife corridor for critically endangered and vulnerable species. The area records 21 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 273 species of birds and 17 species of fish, among them 4 of mammals, 3 species of fish are in threatened and 2 species of reptiles are endangered.
Flora:- Land use patterns in the total wetlands site area include 30% open forests, 40% dense forests, 15% grass lands, and 15% pasturelands. Sal dominated forests exist in the surrounding areas of the lake. The area records 37 vascular plants: one pteridophyte, 26 dicots, and 10 monocots.
Major problems and issues
Wetlands have been degraded in many places due to conversion, pollution, invasion of alien species, encroachment and sedimentation. The major problems to the wetlands are diversion, drainage, and development. Beesazar tal is a very important wetland for biodiversity conservation in Nepal. It is home to millions of migratory birds, fish, amphibians, insects, plants and trees. But this wetland is highly under pressure from adverse anthropogenic and natural factors, keeping associated biodiversity under threat. Rapid growing population, poverty, political disturbance, and illiteracy are the major problems. Deforestation, degradation and fragmentation of wildlife habitat and biotic pressure forest of the wetland pose threat to effective biodiversity conservation. The major problems are summarized as follows:
Over-exploitation
The surrounding forest area of Beesazar wetland is home to an estimated 100,000 people who farm and fish in the lake and surrounding areas through a grant of annual fishing contracts. This site is under pressure of over harvesting of non timber forest products. There is unsustainable use of resources like water, firewood, fish, and wetland birds. Marshy and waterlogged area is generally converted into rice field and fishery ponds. In urban area they are filled-up and then used for real state or other purposes.
Pollution
Pollution is the other serious problems of wetland. People are using as dumping sites to the wetland area and throwing domestic and industrial sewage, waste water and rubbish. Leaching of inorganic fertilizer and pesticide from farmland, and poisoning birds and fishes are found in Beeshazari Tal.
Biodiversity loss Poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, invasion of habitat by alien plant species, illegal hunting and trapping of animals and birds, pollution of water are noticed in the wetland area. Due to over grazing, and conversion into other uses Beesazar wetland has lost their biodiversity.
Invasion
Like other wetland, Beeshazar Tal is also infested with alien invasive plants. This is the serious problem for conservation of wetland and their resources in Nepal. Water hyacinth (jal kumbhi, eichornia crassipes), Kumbhika (pistia stratiotes), Jaljambhu, Besharm, Banmara and Kuraute grasses are the main invasive in this wetland.
Legal and Technical issues
Legal and policy issues should include clear cut roles and responsibilities of local communities for the translation of National Wetland Policy provisions into actions through legislative measures. Technical issues include documentation of wetland related indigenous knowledge system, coordination among various public and private institutions, research and capacity building. These types of issues are not clearly identifying by the policy maker and there are various confusions on the field of conservation of protected are in Nepal.
Ecological issues
Ecological issues include building the understanding of ecological functioning and the application of ecological principles in decision making process. The current issues and future strategies of wetland conservation require a holistic view, keeping with the wise use of wetland resources for human welfare and economic upliftment as focal thrust areas.
Poverty and encroachment
The most pressing issue for Nepal is poverty, which means that most resources are allocated towards education, employment, social welfare and development, with less allocated for conservation and wetlands. Certainly, more resources and new initiatives are needed. New and innovative approaches need to be applied to wetland management. Also, there should be increased financial investment in wetland management. Socio-economic issues include valuation, benefit sharing, investment and mobilization of financial resources, integration of poor peoples’ choices and voices in wetland management. Many wetland have been in the state of claustrophobia primarily due to human intervention for human welfare.
Wetland related policies in Nepal
Nepal has presented its commitment to wetland conservation, specially the conservation of wetland habitats of international importance, by signing the Ramsar Conservation. Present wetland conservation policy of Nepal is in conformity with the article 3(1) of the Ramsar Conservation. It is also in conformity with the directives of the signatory nations passed by the contracting parties in 1996, regarding the mobilization of local communities. Conservation and management of wetlands is reflected in various conservation policies of Nepal and its related activities are as follows shown in the table;
Policy Activities
National conservation Strategy (1988), It has emphasized the need for sustainable use of land and natural resources
The Master Plan for the Forestry Sector 1989, It emphasizes the need to involve people in natural resources management. The Plan stressed that land and forest resources should be managed and utilized on a long-term basis so as to conserve the forests, soil, water, flora, fauna and scenic beauty.
The Nepal Environmental Policy and Action Plan 1993 (NEPAP), NEPAP has timely prioritized the need to identify and protect biologically significant marshes, wetlands, and water bodies. This Plan is an effective initiative for the protection of wetlands and provides a good policy foundation.
The Nepal Environmental Policy and Action Plan-II (1998) (NEPAP-II) (NEPAP - II) to address cross-sectoral and sector plans which have identified fifty-four environmental projects related, directly or indirectly, to the forestry sector that include wetland conservation programs. It states that wetlands in Nepal have often been overlooked as an important habitat type and that many wetlands are suffering from land and water pollution while others have been drained and converted to agricultural land.
The Forestry Sector Policy (2000), The Forestry Sector Policy (2000) stated that the soil, water, flora and fauna constitute the main elements of forestry; nevertheless, it has been silent on wetland conservation.
Nepal Biodiversity strategy (2002), It explicitly addresses the wetland ecosystem. The strategy formulated a mixture of strategies to safeguard the wetland resources. Its implementation plan for 2006 has outlined integrated wetland management as priority projects (P-III) among the thirteen projects that will be implemented during the first phase of the plan (2006-2010) with the objective of developing integrated management plans at the watershed level to conserve wetland biodiversity and critical sites.
National Wetland Policy 2003 Emphasis is given to conserving wetlands by involving the local people, promoting awareness, using wetland resources wisely, preventing and controlling pollution and invasive species.. The policy stated that the legal arrangements to make the wetland management activities effective should be formulated. The need to formulate acts, regulations and guidelines to ensure the jurisdiction and the capabilities of the bodies responsible for wetlands conservation and management is realized from all sides.
Wetland related legislations in Nepal
Wetlands are not defined as a separate category of ecologically important areas under National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 and other resource laws. Wetland related laws are as follows;
a. National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973, b. Aquatic Animal Protection Act 1961,
c. Soil and Watershed Conservation Act 1982, d. Soil and Watershed Conservation Act 1982,
e. Electricity Act 1992, f. Forest Act 1993,
g. Environmental Protection Act 1996, h. Local Self Governance Act 1999
Conservation critique
Wetlands are important and essential for the health, welfare and safety of people. It is also very important for conservation of nature. Making balance of ecosystem in surface of the earth, wetlands play a vital role. It provides home for many animals, birds, insects, plants as well as other living organism in the environment.Wetlands are amongst the world’s most productive environments and provide a wide array of benefits. Wetlands are necessary for biodiversity conservation. Wetlands are not only important for biodiversity conservation, but also very important for human being. It provides various environmental services for human and others living creature. Wetlands have now proven to be the most productive ecosystem on earth. Wetlands provide many benefits – environmental, economic and social. Therefore, the slogan for this year 2010 World Wetland Day has been aptly framed “Caring for Wetlands – An answer to Climate Change.” For wetlands conservation, active participation of the communities is a must, and the active participation will happen only when the communities are aware of its values and concerns.
Since the accession to the Ramsar Conservation in 1987, Nepal has made the following achievements in wetland conservation:
• Designation of nine Ramsar sites,
• Preparation of national lakes inventory and strategic planning,
• Pilot project on collaborative management,
• Integration of wetland into biodiversity strategy and development plan,
• Public awareness campaigns,
• National Wetland Committee Formation,
• Mainstreaming of wetlands into production sectors, etc.
Beeshazar Tal is one of the most important wetland in Nepal. It lies within the Barandabhar forest corridor is an important wetland for birds, wildlife, and aquatic species. Beeshazar Tal is in the buffer zone area of Chitwan National Park which is surrounded by forest of Sal Shorea robusta, Vellornudiflora, Simal Bombasx ceiba, Sindur Mallotus philippenis and other various shrubs. World’s most threatened birds and fish are found in this lake. It provides various environmental services. People of these buffer zone areas are enjoying the environmental services by the Beeshazar Tal. This lake is very important for biodiversity, so Government of Nepal has declared this lake as a Ramsar conservation area and had lunched many protection activities.
Although, Government of Nepal has presented its commitment to wetland conservation, specially the conservation of wetland habitats of international importance, by signing the Ramsar Conservation and developed conservation policies as well as legislations, but it doesn’t working properly. Beeshazar tal was in a jeopardized condition due to fisherman, crocodile hunters, firewood collectors and edible vegetation collector eg nigro Dryopteris sp. Koiralo bauhinia variegate and kurilo Asparagus spacies. Noise pollution by vehicales inside Barandabhar Forest was another responsible factor for the disturbances of birds in the Beeshazar Tal (Ghimire, 2009). There is not any special legislation for the conservation of Beeshazar Tal and having laws and rules are not using properly. Government of Nepal has lunched various programs to protect this area and large amount of money is spending, but the return is not satisfactory. Lack of good planner and qualified personal of the government bodies, wetland conservation sectors are facing various problems.
Without participation of local level people, any plan and program may not be successes. National Wetland Committee is not functioning properly in the Beesazar Tal. There is a gap between government bodies and local level people in the Beeshazar Tal protected area. Even government has already declaredLocal Self Governance Act, 1999, provides immense autonomy to the District Development Committees (DDCs), municipalities and Village Development Committees (VDCs) and they are required to plan and act for protection of forests, environment, and conservation of biodiversity but this act is not functioning accordingly it objectives. Indigenous knowledge is very useful for environment management but Beeshazar Tal Ramsar site people’s indigenous knowledge is not used by the Wetland Conservation Committee. Regarding the management and wise use, indigenous peoples and local communities who live in areas adjacent to Beeshazar tal should have their rights respected by increasing their involvement in wetland management activities. Their relevant indigenous knowledge should be documented fully.
Aquatic Animals Protection Act 1961 recognizes the value of wetlands and aquatic animals and identifies as offence activities to introduce poisonous, noxious or explosive materials into a water source or to destroy any dam, bridge, fish ladder, or water system with the intent of catching or killing aquatic life butBeeshazar tal in a jeopardized condition due to fisherman, crocodile hunters. Hence, it needs to use the legislation with their best perform in wetland conservation sectors like Beeshazar Tal and other Ramsar site in Nepal.
Conclusions
Government commitment to increase the coverage of Ramsar sites is essential. Moreover, success requires engaging local communities and developing a common vision. The Ramsar sites as well as nationally important wetland sites that lie outside the protected areas should be declared as environment protection areas and/or protected watersheds. The Government of Nepal has initiated the move for protection and manageme of wetlands. In spite of various efforts of Government of Nepal and other partner organizations on conservation in the past few years, still there are manifold challenges. Rapid growth population, poverty, illiteracy political disturbance are major problems. Habitat loss, pollution of water, encroachment, invasion alien plant species, illegal fishing and tortoise hunting are major threats of Beeshazar Tal wetland conservation. Unless participation of local level people Governmental bodies could not get solution of these problems. Therefore, the local communities in the Beeshazar Tal as well as other Ramsar sites must be motivated and mobilized to work together, utilize their indigenous knowledgeso that they can improve the wetland ecology and uplift their living styles. Finally, the following activities can be recommended for conservation of Beeshazar Tal:-
¢ Local level communities should be participated on wetland conservation,
¢ Indigenous knowledge must use for conservation management,
¢ Special laws and regulation should be made for wetland conservation.
¢ Water pollution and alien invasion plant should be controlled.

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