Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 18.6 Individuals of great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and river tern Sterna aurantia are basking on the shores
of reservoir
Conservation Issues
As in the case of other wetland habitats in the
country, Pong Dam wetland is also facing anthro-
pogenic pressure in the form of various activities
such as urbanization/settlements, unplanned
agricultural development, resource extraction
(fi sh culture), indirect pollution (through insecti-
cides used in agriculture) and disposal of waste.
However, situation is not so grim as in other parts
of the country. But climate change may emerge
as serious concern threatening biodiversity in
near future owing to increasing trends in air tem-
perature, irregular precipitation and decreased
carbon sequestration.
Pong Dam wetland is known to host a sizeable
population of bar-headed goose during winter in
India. This species migrates over the Himalaya to
spend the winter in many parts of South Asia.
The foraging habitat of the bar-headed goose is
cultivated fi elds adjoining to wetlands, where it
feeds on barley, paddy and wheat, and may dam-
age crops. At Pong wetland, they usually feed on
grasses on the peripheral area of reservoir. Every
year, after the end of rainy season (July to
September), water level of the reservoir recedes;
consequently the submersed shallow peripheral
areas are exposed. These areas are being used by
local people for the cultivation of wheat. The ten-
der leaves of the wheat allure the bar-headed
goose in large number. It has been observed that
locals usually dislike the foraging of bar-headed
goose on their crop. For prevention often they use
loose thread nets/refl ecting objects in fi elds or
produce noise by different means. This practice
makes the birds very scared and restless. It is not
only harmful for geese, but many other birds also
feel very unsafe and scared. If it is not prevented,
the Pong Dam might not be a preferable winter-
ing ground for these birds. It may lead to decrease
in species diversity and richness. Occasional
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