Title: Gurudongmar Wetland Complex - An Integrated Management Plan for Conservation and Wise-use
KeyWords: Gurudongmar, Integrated Management Plan,r Conservation, Wetland
Year of Publication: 2021
ISSN No: NA
Author Name: Wetlands International South Asia and Forest and Environment Department, Sikkim
Details:
Executive Summary
Nested within the Tso Lhamo plateau of Sikkim Trans-Himalayas and flanked by Khangchengayo-Pauhunri massif, Gurudongmar Wetland Complex (GWC) is a highly revered high-altitude wetland (HAW) complex of the North Sikkim District. Comprising three wetlands with a collective span of 329 ha, the wetland complex forms the headwaters of Teesta River, and is a critical flood buffer for downstream communities of Chopta, Thangu and Lachen. The mosaic of habitats within the GWC is inhabited by diverse lifeforms, including at least 52 bacterial isolates, 15 phytoplankton, 20 macrophytes, 2 amphibians, 9 waterbirds and 15 mammal species. Perched at an elevation of 5150-5430 m amsl, the picturesque landscape of GWC not only holds cultural relevance for local people, but also interests throngs of tourists. The wetland complex is a designated sacred lake of the state and finds special mention in local legends and folklores. The wetland receives protection under the Places of Worship (Special Provision) Act, 1991 and has been identified as a priority conservation site under various programmes of the State and Central Government.
The GWC is undergoing changes due to glaciation in the Eastern Indian Himalayan Region. During 1990-2018, the area of ice contact proglacial lakes of GWC has increased by over 25% correlating with decrease in glacier area (overall 1.17% decrease in glacial extent of Sikkim Himalayas during 1990-2004, with nearly 6.7% decline in smaller glaciers (<10 km2).
GWC has evolved into a prime tourism hotspot of Sikkim, increasing vulnerability of fragile areas such as these. In 2018, nearly 0.2 million people visited the wetland, four times more than the number of tourists in 2016. Due to rapid spurt of tourism in the landscape, the human footprint is becoming adverse. Influx of tourists, construction of roads and expansion of human settlements are disturbing the wildlife habitat. This is further exacerbated by an increase in the number of feral dogs, which feed upon garbage left behind by tourists, army camps and villagers, and freely hunt species such as Himalayan marmot, Kiang, and waterbirds.