KEIBUL LAMJAO CONSERVATION
Source: indianexpress
Description:
- Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area comprises a core area of Keibul Lamjao National Park(KLNP) of 40 sq km, a buffer of Loktak Lake of 140 sq km and Pumlen Pat of 43 sq. km.
- This area is located in the southern part of Bishnupur district & eastern part of Thoubal District of Manipur.
- The Lokatk Lake has a unique ecosystem called "Phumdi", which means floating mats of soil and vegetation.
- Phumdi is a heterogenous mass of soil, vegetation & organic matter at various stages of decomposition. They occupy almost half of the lake area & three-fourths of the Keibul Lamjao Area.
- Phumdi in KLNP is home to Manipur brow-antlered deer(Rucervus eldi eldi), also known as Sangai.
- For effective in-situ conservation of sangria, the Forest Department of Manipur in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India planned to reintroduce sangai in a neighbouring area with similar habitat.
Loktak Lake:
- Loktak lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in north-eastern India.
- The lake was broadly divided into three zones-Northern, Central and southern zone on basis of Vegetation, Phumdi thickness, Drainage network, open water area location, and human activity.
- It was reported that about 0.8-2m humid areas proliferate within 6 months in the main lake, 0.1m per 6 months in the KLNP area.
- The depth of the lake varies between 0.5-4.58m with an average depth of 2.7m.
- 14 hills surrounding the southern part of the lake like Sendra, Itching, and Thanga islands.
| The lake is rich in biodiversity and designated by the Ramsar Convention in 1990. |
Human Interference:
- The lake has been a source of water for domestic generation of hydroelectric power, irrigation, habitat for several plants used as food, fishing ground, fodder, fuel, medicines, biodiversity, recreation etc.
- Loktak lake is considered as "Lifeline of Manipur".
- Three types of communities that live in the villages located around the KLCA are Phum dwellers, island communities, and lakeshore communities.
- Phum dwellers are people who live permanently/temporarily on phumdis, island communities-those living on islands, and lakeshore communities.
- Located in the southwestern part of KLCA, there is Moirang, a place where Indian National Army hoisted the flag on April 14, 1944. (War memorial from world war2).
Key Points:
- Loktak part, KLNP is surrounded by many villages inhabited by Meitei society, a dominant ethnic group of Manipur.
- The Meiteis have a rich culture out of which the floating huts exemplify uniqueness in their architecture.
- The Umang-lai(forest deity), is worshipped in almost all villages around Loktak lake & KLNP.
- The vast agricultural fields surrounding the Loktak lake are known as Pat-Lou meaning lake agricultural field.
- The Punghul method is generally employed in pat-lou in which the land was to be tilled first & the seeds were sown over it again, finally, the seeds were covered with soil by one more tilling.
- Agriculture & Fishing are the main economies of the people living in & around the lake.
- Wild rice (Kampong), and vegetables are commonly grown.
| KLNP is the only floating national park in the world. |
- Phumdis are composed of organic carbon(36%), nitrogen(2.08%), organic matter(24.98%), mineral matter & residue(37.94%).
- KLCA is comprised of a unique ecosystem which is rich in biodiversity. A total of 185 plant species comprising 50 families and 121 genera were recorded.
- 90 species were recorded in floating meadows & water, 19 species in a terrestrial habitat, and 76 were common to both habitats.
- 54 fish species belonging to 18 families were recorded from the lake.
- 25 species of amphibians were recorded from the lake & 32,855 water birds belonging to 58 species were recorded during the recent census.
- Globally threatened species recorded in the lake are black-necked stork and Mandarin duck.
- Among mammals, KLNP holds a population of 212 hog deer and 204 Sangai which generates considerable international interest & a perfect example of in-situ conservation.
- Sangai-Brow antlered deer refers to the peculiar shape of antlers is endangered.
- Though the population of sangria has increased over the last 10 years, risks to survival persist like encroachment on habitat, local dissatisfaction with the parks, floods, epidemic diseases, and further loss of genetic diversity.
- To recover the sangai population, pumlen pat has been identified for its reintroduction.
- The Pallet Pat is the second largest freshwater wetland in Manipur.
- The pumlen lake has rich floral & faunal diversity with 75 plant species belonging to 29 species identified.
- The faunal diversity includes invertebrates like water beetle, giant water bug, snails, egret, water cobra, viper, wild boar, hog deer, civet cats etc.
Statements of Authenticity:
- An area of around 5200 hectares in the southern part of Loktak lake, inclusive of the Keibul Lamjao portion was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1954.
- The area was reduced to 4050 hectares and was declared a national park called KLNP in 1977 under the wildlife protection act, 1972 and the Manipur wildlife protection rules, 1974.
- The state forest department has proposed the core area of loktak lake as a Conservation Reserve for the protection of water birds.
- The lake is designated Ramsar wetland and is governed by the Environment Protection Act, 1986
| A similar type of inland ecosystem Keoladeo National Park was inscribed as a world heritage site in 1985, Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area is natural whereas Keoladeo is man-made. |
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Prelims Question:
1)Which of the following national parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?
A. Manas National Park B. Keibul Lamjao National Park C.Silent Valley National Park D.Simlipal National Park
2)Consider the following statements regarding Keibul Lamjao National Park.
1. It is the only floating National Park in the world.
2. This is the last natural habitat of the brow-antlered deer (Sangai) the dancing deer of Manipur.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 Only B. 2 Only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 Nor 2
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