386
prolifi c growth of AM, some of which are Cyperus,
Hygrorhiza, Oryza, Scirpus, Eichhornia, Pistia,
Lemna, Azolla, Trapa, Ipomoea, Enhydra, Justicia,
Nymphaea, Euryale, Hydrilla, Vallisneria, Najas ,
etc. 80 species of phytoplankton belonging to
Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae have been reported. Rice is cultivated
generally along the periphery of the chaurs.
Extensive waterfowl netting goes on in this
region of Bihar. As such, hunting pressure is
quite high in some areas. The annual harvest of
waterfowl provides a valuable source of food
and income for large number of local people.
The area is important for wintering waterfowls
belonging to Anatidae.
The annual fi sh production of the province of
Bihar, both from aquaculture and capture fi sheries, has been estimated at 0.261 million tonnes
against a demand of approx. 0.456 million tonnes.
Evidently, there exists a wide gap between
demand and supply, to the tune of 43 %, which is
quite paradoxical in view of the vast fi shery
resources in the State. The unmet demand is
partly met from supply of fi sh from other States.
Similarly, the annual demand of fi sh seed in the
state is >900 million, while the production is only
about 350 million from the 121 government fi sh
seed farms, two corporate level fi sh hatcheries
and 26 private hatcheries. Thus, the chaurs have
tremendous role in the piscicultural development
of the province, particularly to meet the gap
between demand and supply.
20.3.4 Wetlands of Gujarat
The province of Gujarat is endowed with wetlands.
Few of them are discussed below.
20.3.4.1 Wetlands of Central
and Eastern Saurashtra
They are located between 21° 00′and 22° 30′ N
and 70° 30′ and 72° 10′ E in the districts of Rajkot,
Bhavnagar and Junagadh in central and eastern
Saurashtra in Gujarat province. There are >1,000
wetlands ranging in area from a few hectares to
2,800 ha. They lie between sea level and 225 m
MSL. All the signifi cant wetlands are water
storage reservoirs created by damming small
rivers and streams. Most of the wetlands are shallow ranging in depth from 2 to 3 m. The climate is
generally dry but under the infl uence of tropical
monsoon. The temperature ranges from 5 to
45 °C. AM is not abundant. Shooting is prohibited
in the wetlands. The wetlands provide freshwater
for agriculture and domestic use. Drought problem is a major threat in these wetlands. A rich
diversity of waterfowls visit these wetlands.
20.3.4.2 Chari-Dhand Wetland
Conservation Reserve
It is a 22,700-ha wetland located on the edge of
arid Banni grasslands and the marshy salt fl ats of
the Rann of Kutch in Kutch District of Gujarat
Province in India. It is legally protected as a
Protected or Reserve Forest (RF) in India. ‘Chari’
means salt-affected and ‘Dhand’ means shallow
wetland. This is a seasonal desert wetland and
becomes swampy during a good monsoon by
receiving water from the north fl owing rivers as
well as from the huge catchment areas of many
surrounding big hills. It is spread over an area of
80 km
2 . It is situated 80 km southwest of the city
of Bhuj. It is home to nearly 200,000 birds consisting of migratory and endangered species
which fl ock in the area. This wetland was originally proposed as a ‘bird sanctuary’ by the
Gujarat State Forest Department which had proposed that it be declared as the Kutch bird sanctuary . Accordingly, the Gujarat State Wildlife
Board decided to declare Chari-Dhand wetland
as a conservation forest , as it would be of greater
benefi t to the local people.
20.3.4.3 Avifauna
The avifauna include the fl amingos, common
cranes, painted storks and spoonbills. The wetland also attracts chinkara, wolves, caracal, desert cats, desert foxes, etc.
Habitat Improvement
Efforts are being made to replace alien invasive
Gando Bawal thorn tree ( Prosopis julifl ora ) with
useful trees like Khara ( Salvadora oleoides ) and
Mitha pilus ( Salvadora persica ) along the periphery of this wetland.
20 Wetlands of India
prolifi c growth of AM, some of which are Cyperus,
Hygrorhiza, Oryza, Scirpus, Eichhornia, Pistia,
Lemna, Azolla, Trapa, Ipomoea, Enhydra, Justicia,
Nymphaea, Euryale, Hydrilla, Vallisneria, Najas ,
etc. 80 species of phytoplankton belonging to
Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae have been reported. Rice is cultivated
generally along the periphery of the chaurs.
Extensive waterfowl netting goes on in this
region of Bihar. As such, hunting pressure is
quite high in some areas. The annual harvest of
waterfowl provides a valuable source of food
and income for large number of local people.
The area is important for wintering waterfowls
belonging to Anatidae.
The annual fi sh production of the province of
Bihar, both from aquaculture and capture fi sheries, has been estimated at 0.261 million tonnes
against a demand of approx. 0.456 million tonnes.
Evidently, there exists a wide gap between
demand and supply, to the tune of 43 %, which is
quite paradoxical in view of the vast fi shery
resources in the State. The unmet demand is
partly met from supply of fi sh from other States.
Similarly, the annual demand of fi sh seed in the
state is >900 million, while the production is only
about 350 million from the 121 government fi sh
seed farms, two corporate level fi sh hatcheries
and 26 private hatcheries. Thus, the chaurs have
tremendous role in the piscicultural development
of the province, particularly to meet the gap
between demand and supply.
20.3.4 Wetlands of Gujarat
The province of Gujarat is endowed with wetlands.
Few of them are discussed below.
20.3.4.1 Wetlands of Central
and Eastern Saurashtra
They are located between 21° 00′and 22° 30′ N
and 70° 30′ and 72° 10′ E in the districts of Rajkot,
Bhavnagar and Junagadh in central and eastern
Saurashtra in Gujarat province. There are >1,000
wetlands ranging in area from a few hectares to
2,800 ha. They lie between sea level and 225 m
MSL. All the signifi cant wetlands are water
storage reservoirs created by damming small
rivers and streams. Most of the wetlands are shallow ranging in depth from 2 to 3 m. The climate is
generally dry but under the infl uence of tropical
monsoon. The temperature ranges from 5 to
45 °C. AM is not abundant. Shooting is prohibited
in the wetlands. The wetlands provide freshwater
for agriculture and domestic use. Drought problem is a major threat in these wetlands. A rich
diversity of waterfowls visit these wetlands.
20.3.4.2 Chari-Dhand Wetland
Conservation Reserve
It is a 22,700-ha wetland located on the edge of
arid Banni grasslands and the marshy salt fl ats of
the Rann of Kutch in Kutch District of Gujarat
Province in India. It is legally protected as a
Protected or Reserve Forest (RF) in India. ‘Chari’
means salt-affected and ‘Dhand’ means shallow
wetland. This is a seasonal desert wetland and
becomes swampy during a good monsoon by
receiving water from the north fl owing rivers as
well as from the huge catchment areas of many
surrounding big hills. It is spread over an area of
80 km
2 . It is situated 80 km southwest of the city
of Bhuj. It is home to nearly 200,000 birds consisting of migratory and endangered species
which fl ock in the area. This wetland was originally proposed as a ‘bird sanctuary’ by the
Gujarat State Forest Department which had proposed that it be declared as the Kutch bird sanctuary . Accordingly, the Gujarat State Wildlife
Board decided to declare Chari-Dhand wetland
as a conservation forest , as it would be of greater
benefi t to the local people.
20.3.4.3 Avifauna
The avifauna include the fl amingos, common
cranes, painted storks and spoonbills. The wetland also attracts chinkara, wolves, caracal, desert cats, desert foxes, etc.
Habitat Improvement
Efforts are being made to replace alien invasive
Gando Bawal thorn tree ( Prosopis julifl ora ) with
useful trees like Khara ( Salvadora oleoides ) and
Mitha pilus ( Salvadora persica ) along the periphery of this wetland.
20 Wetlands of India