Winter home of the Black-necked cranesby Gayatri Chhetri | 20-03-2018 23:49 |
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lif Wetlands are important, as it is a source of rich ecosystem goods and services. There are unique forms of life seen in the wetlands as it is different from its surroundings and is home to diverse species of flora and fauna (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2000). With changing climatic conditions there are serious threats to the wetlands as it can hamper the quality and quantity of the water present within these regions. One of the factors that play a significant role for the wetland is hydrological cycle. This cycle can lead to changes in current environmental fluctuations which causes changes in the precipitation rate, temperature, amount of humidity and distribution of water in the wetland (Beniston, 2003). This repot is about the importance of a high altitude wetlands in Bhutan, which provides a winter habitat for an endangered species of bird known as the Black-necked crane. Phobjikha Valley is one of the high-altitude wetlands in Bhutan, it is situated in Wangdue Phodrang district. These wetlands serve as the winter habitat for the Black necked cranes. These species of cranes are an endangered species, which makes preserving these wetlands even more of a priority. There are many organizations that are working towards the conservation of these wetlands. The main challenges faced are due to increasing farming activities, land use, fertilizers, pesticides, and land fragmentation as most of the people living in the place are dependent on agricultural activities (Dorji et al. 2004)In recent years, there have been different organizations working with local communities to protect these regions with signs of positive results. Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) is one of the organizations that have put significant emphasis on the need to converse the wetlands in these areas. RSPN has collaborated with several international and regional organizations such as International Crane Foundation, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Resources Himalayas for various conservation activities (ICIMOD and RSPN, 2014) to attain this goal. These organizations working at a grass-root level with local communities is crucial in achieving the conservation goals. Wetlands present in Phobjikha Valley is important for the survival of the Black-necked crane, and even the local communities in the district embrace the crane as a significant part of their culture, which inspires them to protect the wetlands. Every year there is a Black necked crane festival in Phobjikha on 11th of November. The locals also generate income from ecotourism as visitors come to Phobjikha to observe the beauty of the crane. In the last decade, homestay have risen substantially in numbers providing an alternative income for these people. Hence, the conservation and preservation of wetlands are vital as they bless our lands with diverse organisms and provide a winter home for the Black-necked crane. References:
Beniston, M (2003) ?Climatic change in mountain regions: A review of possible impacts.? In Climate Change, 59:5-31 Dorji, L; Yonzon, P; Tshering, D (2004) Socioeconomic status of the Phobjikha landscape Conservation. Thimphu, Bhutan: RSPN ICIMOD; RSPN (2014) An integrated assessment of the effects of natural and human disturbances on a wetland ecosystem: A retrospective from Phobjikha Conservation Area, Bhutan. Kathmandu: ICIMOD Mitsch, WJ; Gosselink, JG (2000) ?The value of wetlands: Importance of scale and landscape setting.? Ecological Economics 35: 25-33
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