Prince KUMAR, CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF JHARKHAND, India
The Kanwar lake is a freshwater natural wetland, Once a haven for migratory birds, drawing water from the confluence of the Burhi Gandak, the Bia and the Kareh river in Begusarai district of Bihar. This Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake has been also identified as Ramsar site in 2020. The natural water reservoir is significant as it serves the community and society in different ways, which comprises the income generation through fishery, promoting tourism, keeping water table up in the vicinity, and being at the core of the local culture. The methodology comprises both qualitative as well as quantitative methods. Lake is degrading due to geographical, socio-cultural, ecological and political region, Examples Siltation and flooding, conflict between community, pooching of migratory birds, eutrophication are there that is leading to dry up of Kanwar lake which further leads to the disappearance of Siberian migratory birds from the region. Therefore, the paper not only tries to assess the importance of Ramsar site in the region but also enquire about the factors responsible for the deterioration of the natural lake of Kanwar. Further the study also tries to find out the ways through which the health of the lake can be improved.
Keywords: Ramsar site|Wetland|Migratory birds|Degradation|oxbow lake
A105146PK