Wetlands of Assam: Past Present and Future

VKIC cordially invites you with your family and friends to its on-going series of talks on Land Policy

About the Speaker: Dr. Abani Kumar Bhagabati is Professor, Dept. of Geography, Gauhati University. He has held various positions including as the Registrar, Gauhati University and General Society, Assam Science Society. In order to generate awareness of preserving the wetlands of Assam, he has been regularly taking students, especially those from interior areas, on visits to the wetlands of Majuli, etc. He has published 19 books and 43 research papers; supervised six M.Phil and seven Doctoral theses of which a recent one was on the wetlands of Goalpara. That our wetlands should be rejuvenated for sustainable growth and development is an article of faith with him.

The Theme: Sufficiently saturated by water, wetlands function as a natural system and provide habitat for diverse fish, wildlife and plant species. They regulate drainage systems and climogenic events such as floods and draughts. Their role in safeguarding environment, ecological balance and sustenance of life is immense. Human development largely rests on their conservation and sustainable use.

The lifestyle, culture and economy of communities inhabiting the Brahmaputra and the Barak Valleys are closely linked with wetlands. In fact, Assam is blessed with more than 3,000 wetlands, all of which are under tremendous pressure. They are in a degraded form in terms of size, depth and pollution. He there is a felt need for serious and consistent intervention both on the governmental and public fronts to save this precious legacy.