*Department of Environmental Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati – 781014, Assam, India.
**Department of Geography, Gauhati University, Guwahati – 781014, Assam, India.
Dora Beel, a unique wetland habitat providing plenty of resources and ecological services to the people inhabiting the surrounding region, situated in the Kulsi-Brahmaputra flood plain. The Beel lies between 26°04’48" latitude N to 26°05’27” N latitude and 91°26’37” E longitude to 91°27’37”E longitude. According to the Survey of India toposheet of 1971, it was estimated that the total area of the Beel was 297.96 acres which has shrunk to 278.41 acres according to the Landsat imagery 2005, surrounded by 10 to 13 small villages respectively.
Wetlands are ecologically, socio-economically and aesthetically important natural resources. The riverine state of Assam has numerous wetlands, the majority of which can be term as Floodplain wetland with immense economic value provides source of livelihood for local community. While the productivity and survival of these wetlands is totally dependent on human activities and interferences which pose a great threat to the existing ecological balance.
With the changing patterns of land use and livelihood, the people have a great role to play in the overall biodiversity and ecosystem of the wetland. Due to human interference, the wetland is facing serious threats for survival and becomes ecologically fragile which requires an urgent need for restoration.
This paper is a modest attempt to explore and establish the linkages of land use, livelihood and biodiversity and their associated impacts with special reference to Dora Beel in Kamrup District, Assam.
Beel, Biodiversity, Floodplain, Land use and Livelihood
