665
due to improved management capabilities
of the BDC, sustainable development and
management of Beel fi sheries as well as
community’s sustainable livelihood from Beel
fi shery resources may be ensured. The study
also revealed that for sustainable development
and management of Beel fi sheries, Beel users’
participation in development programme,
women empowerment, community- based
fi sheries organisations, management capabilities of BDC and availability of critical
aquaculture inputs are the most critical
factors due to their positive and signifi cant
correlation ( p < 0.01) with sustainable development and management of Beel fi sheries.
(b) Regression analysis (stepwise) indicated that
six independent variables, namely, involvement
of NGOs, women empowerment, communitymanaged market, community- based physical
assets, socio-political empowerment and
BDC’s management capabilities, were found
to be most signifi cantly contri buting predictor variables that could explain 42 % of the
total variance of the Beel users’ knowledge
level on CBFM.
(c) Factor analysis indicated that eight common
factors, namely, pre-income, knowledge
scores of the Beel users on CBFM, sustainable development and management of Beel
fi sheries, age, social participation, caste, land
holding and availability of critical aquaculture and inputs that were extracted after 18
iterations, could explain 69.89 % of total
variance. So, based on study of these eight
variables, instead of 24 variables, we shall
construct that minimum data set which almost
accounts for total variation under the study.
Summary
1. Studies on freshwater bodies such as ponds,
lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, rivers and streams
have gained much signifi cance in recent years
due to their importance. These waterbodies
harbour wide array of aquatic organisms.
2. Wetlands provide many services and commodities to humanity. Regional wetlands
are integral parts of larger landscapes. Their
functions and values in these landscapes
depend both on their extent and their location. Each wetland is, thus, ecologically
unique. The interaction of man with wetlands
during the last few decades has been of
concern largely due to the rapid population
growth accompanied with urbanisation.
3. Fishes are important bioresources in a
wetland.
4. It is known that there are wetland scientists
who uncover the processes which determine
wetland functions and values. So, too, are
there those who are involved in some of the
many aspects of wetland management by
choice or by vocation. These individuals are
called ‘wetland managers’
5. Wetlands are not under the full responsibility
of any specifi c administrative department.
However, the primary duty of management
of these ecosystems lies with the Ministry of
Environment and Forests. Some wetlands are
protected after the enacting of the Wildlife
Protection Act. Others are threatened by
extinction. Effective coordination between the
different ministries, namely, energy, industry,
fi sheries, revenue, agriculture, transport and
water resources, is a prerequisite for the protection of these ecosystems.
6. National wetland strategy should encompass (i) conservation and collaborative
management, (ii) prevention of loss and
promotion of restoration and (iii) sustainable management.
7. The primary necessity today is to protect the
existing wetlands. Of the many wetlands in
India, only around 68 wetlands are protected.
But there are thousands of other wetlands
which are biologically and economically
important but have no legal status.
8. Wetlands, which come under the Protected
Area Network, have management plans but
others do not. It is important for various
stakeholders along with the local community
and the corporate sector to come together
for an effective management plan. Active
monitoring of these wetland systems over a
period of time is essential.
9. There has been no complete and comprehensive inventory of all the Indian wetlands
31.14 Ongoing Programmes on Wetland Conservation: Action Plan of Government of India
due to improved management capabilities
of the BDC, sustainable development and
management of Beel fi sheries as well as
community’s sustainable livelihood from Beel
fi shery resources may be ensured. The study
also revealed that for sustainable development
and management of Beel fi sheries, Beel users’
participation in development programme,
women empowerment, community- based
fi sheries organisations, management capabilities of BDC and availability of critical
aquaculture inputs are the most critical
factors due to their positive and signifi cant
correlation ( p < 0.01) with sustainable development and management of Beel fi sheries.
(b) Regression analysis (stepwise) indicated that
six independent variables, namely, involvement
of NGOs, women empowerment, communitymanaged market, community- based physical
assets, socio-political empowerment and
BDC’s management capabilities, were found
to be most signifi cantly contri buting predictor variables that could explain 42 % of the
total variance of the Beel users’ knowledge
level on CBFM.
(c) Factor analysis indicated that eight common
factors, namely, pre-income, knowledge
scores of the Beel users on CBFM, sustainable development and management of Beel
fi sheries, age, social participation, caste, land
holding and availability of critical aquaculture and inputs that were extracted after 18
iterations, could explain 69.89 % of total
variance. So, based on study of these eight
variables, instead of 24 variables, we shall
construct that minimum data set which almost
accounts for total variation under the study.
Summary
1. Studies on freshwater bodies such as ponds,
lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, rivers and streams
have gained much signifi cance in recent years
due to their importance. These waterbodies
harbour wide array of aquatic organisms.
2. Wetlands provide many services and commodities to humanity. Regional wetlands
are integral parts of larger landscapes. Their
functions and values in these landscapes
depend both on their extent and their location. Each wetland is, thus, ecologically
unique. The interaction of man with wetlands
during the last few decades has been of
concern largely due to the rapid population
growth accompanied with urbanisation.
3. Fishes are important bioresources in a
wetland.
4. It is known that there are wetland scientists
who uncover the processes which determine
wetland functions and values. So, too, are
there those who are involved in some of the
many aspects of wetland management by
choice or by vocation. These individuals are
called ‘wetland managers’
5. Wetlands are not under the full responsibility
of any specifi c administrative department.
However, the primary duty of management
of these ecosystems lies with the Ministry of
Environment and Forests. Some wetlands are
protected after the enacting of the Wildlife
Protection Act. Others are threatened by
extinction. Effective coordination between the
different ministries, namely, energy, industry,
fi sheries, revenue, agriculture, transport and
water resources, is a prerequisite for the protection of these ecosystems.
6. National wetland strategy should encompass (i) conservation and collaborative
management, (ii) prevention of loss and
promotion of restoration and (iii) sustainable management.
7. The primary necessity today is to protect the
existing wetlands. Of the many wetlands in
India, only around 68 wetlands are protected.
But there are thousands of other wetlands
which are biologically and economically
important but have no legal status.
8. Wetlands, which come under the Protected
Area Network, have management plans but
others do not. It is important for various
stakeholders along with the local community
and the corporate sector to come together
for an effective management plan. Active
monitoring of these wetland systems over a
period of time is essential.
9. There has been no complete and comprehensive inventory of all the Indian wetlands
31.14 Ongoing Programmes on Wetland Conservation: Action Plan of Government of India