Wetland is defined as “lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic eco-system where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water."
Wetlands are an important part of nature that recharge the groundwater and also maintain a healthy ecosystem. As forests are called the lungs of Earth, likewise wetlands are referred to as kidneys. The kidney comparison aside, wetlands are the essential sources of freshwater, buffers of surges and dry seasons, recyclers of supplements and chemicals, and inseparably interlaced with our culture and character. Wetlands are also significant natural features that offer a variety of advantages to both people and wildlife.
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Keeping surface water flowing during dry spells, storing floodwaters, supplying habitats for wildlife, and safeguarding and enhancing water quality, are a few of these services or functions. Wetlands special natural qualities are the cause of these beneficial effects. However due to the population explosion and different anthropogenic activities, the wetlands are under a major threat. With 87% of them gone worldwide in the previous 300 years and 54% since 1900, wetlands are especially degraded.
The primary factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity are habitat modification and degradation, which result in a reduction in the suitability of the remaining habitat. There are many wetlands in India, and the state of Assam is among the most biodiverse areas with numerous significant wetlands. Assam's wetland area makes up 1.3% of the state's total land area. It was discovered after a survey that the state contains more than 3500 wetlands.
Nature has endowed the state of Assam with a prosperous biodiversity, especially for bird diversity or avifaunal diversity. We have always been amazed by birds. Birds signify many things like climate change, biodiversity, etc. The high and low diversity of bird species is directly related to the environmental condition of an area. Different species of avifauna are found in different habitats. Their habitats in the Indian subcontinent can roughly be divided into Forests, Scrub, Wetlands, Marine, Grasslands, Deserts and agricultural land.
Wetlands are one of the prime bird habitats for birds. The wetlands of Assam are distributed throughout the state and harbour a substantial number of birds, of which many are migratory. Assam is a heaven home to a total of 942+ species among 1263 found in India. The wetlands of the state are home to more than 300 species of birds. Biswanath district in Northern Assam is full of wilderness.
The Biswanath district is rich in wetlands. There are several wetlands where the biodiversity is also very rich. A total of 156 species of faunal elements have been recorded. Among them, 83 were water birds found during a survey of wetlands in Biswanath district. Some birds depend on fish, so wetlands provide them with a source. There are 113 fish species in the Behali constituency of Biswanath district. Most of the wetland has lost its faunal diversity in the district.
One of the important wetlands in the Biswanath district of Behali Constituency is the Bedeti Wetland, which is a bird's paradise and continues to exist compared to other wetlands in the area. Once upon a time, there were many wetlands in the area, but most of them have vanished up due to human settlement. Now the wetlands are also neglected and many wetlands which are rich in biodiversity are losing their existence at the same time. It is very important to know about the nearest wetland and the biodiversity of the area.
Knowing the biodiversity of the nearest wetland contributes to its conservation, as wetland conservation goes hand in hand at a time when most wetlands have been lost. The Bedeti wetland is located near NH 15 and Bedeti Railway Station. The Mapping coordination is 26˚85N and 93˚39E. The surrounding of Bedeti Wetland is covered with small grasslands and paddy fields. The water is filled up with Lotus, Water lilies, and other aquatic plants.
Presently the wetland is in the middle of two famous protected areas including the Kaziranga National Park in the south which is almost 8 km away, and Behali Wildlife Sanctuary in te north which is almost 6 km away. The Bedeti River flows through a small pond which is a part of the wetland.
Buroi River is closer to the wetland than Borgang River because Buroi River is only 2 km away from the site while Borgang River is 15 km away. This indicates the importance of the study area, which is why many wild animals use this humid method for their migration. Deers and Elephants have also been spotted near the wetland, while elephants are seen occasionally.
To give you a context about the biodiversity, During my study in the past three years of birdlife present in the area it is come out that, the wetland is a heaven home to more than 150 species of birdlife along with five threatened species. During the study five globally threatened species namely, Lesser adjutant stork Leptoptilos javanicus (Near Threatened), Greater spotted eagle Clanga clanga(Vulnerable), Wooly Necked Stork Ciconia episcopus(Near threatened), and Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis (Near threatened) ,Ferruginous poachard Aythya nyroca (Near threatened)has recorded. While Some notable residential and migratory species like Cotton pygmy goose, Glossy ibis, Common moorhen, Pied Kingfisher, Stork-Billed Kingfisher, Common kingfisher, White Breasted Kingfisher, Indian roller, Crested Goshawk, Black winged kite, Black kite, Eurasian Kestrel, White wagtail, Citrine wagtail, Cinnamon bittern, Striated heron, Purple Heron, Little cormorant, Hen harrier, Barn swallow, Asian Barred Owlet, Brown Shrikes, Siberian stone chat, Rosy pipit, Common snipe, Asian openbill stork, Little Egret, Great egret, Indian Pond Heron, Dusky warbler, Siberian Rubbythroat, Booted eagle and other numerous important species make this wetland more enriched in the terms of Avian faunal diversity. This wetland is a breeding ground for many residential species like Lesser whistling duck, Bronzed Winged Jacana , Common moorhen, White-breasted waterhen, Cotton pygmy goose and some other which are inhabiting in the wetland as Residential species. This year more than 14 cotton pygmy goose and 30 Bronzed winged jacana's offsprings were seen along with many whistling teals. The winter in the wetland feels and gives another vibe with large flocks of wintering migrant birds. During winter many wintering migrants arrive in this wetland. One of the prominent migratory bird Grey Headed Lapwing is often seen in the wetland in a large numbers while along with other wintering birds flock including the Pacific golden plover, Bar Headed Geese, Ruddy shell duck and Gadwalls. Interestingly first sighting record of Yellow bittern in the Greater Behali area is come into light from this wetland. The wetland is also home to a variety of fishes, turtles, mammals and other flora and fauna which indicates a healthy ecosystem in the surroundings.
The beautiful bird paradise is under the threats of poaching and habitat destruction by humans for different purposes as conservation of the wetland is lacking behind. Still, bird hunting, and destruction of the wetland are seen which creates a major threat while water collection for overfishing in the wetland is done by locals which leads to loss of fish diversity as well it devastates the wetland vegetation and it impacts the diversity of birds too. Recently many birds have gone locally extinct.
Conservation measures were undertaken by NGOs including Nature’s Bonyapran and Forest Department by organizing awareness programs, destruction of nets(used for killing birds)and monitoring the wetland.
On a sharp time where the majority of the wetlands are vanished up from the state, it is good news that, the Bedeti Wetland have it's existence with prosperous faunal and floral diversity. With immediate affect the government should take some conservation measures for the conservation of the Bedeti Wetland.
(The author is a class IX student and a member of Nature's Bonyapran. All thoughts and views expressed are the author’s own.)