Community action for Loktak biodiversity conservation

The Loktak Lake is one of the vanishing lake ecosystem under the Ramsar Convention. The lake is the lifeline of the people of Manipur State and is part of their tradition and culture. The lake's aquatic life, flora and fauna is threatened due to pollution from sewage, domestic waste, Ithai barrage, NHPC power project, growth of weeds, encroachment and heavy siltation caused by the shifting cultivation in the hills surrounding the lake. The conventional agricultural practices in the Imphal valley is causing the accumulation of residual chemical fertilizer and pesticides used for crop production in the lake. The population growth and townships considerably contributing pollution and deterioration of water quality in the lake due to the dumping of untreated sewage and domestic waste. The Loktak Lake is home to the endangered Sangai deer (Cervus eldi eldi), rare waterfowls and migratory birds during seasons. The Kebul Lamjao National Wild Life Park is situated in the lake. The lake is home to many species, including 150 species of arthropods, 10 species of mollusks, 106 species of birds and 32 species of mammals. It is recorded that 5 mammals, 3 birds, 9 reptiles, 3 amphibians, 12 fishes, 2 mollusks and 1 annelid species that were abundant in the past are now disappearing. The construction of Ithai barrage has led to changes in hydrological regimes affecting ecological process and functions of the wetland. The lake is badly affected by siltation, weed infestation, thinning of the phumdi thickness causing threat to the endangered sangai and loss of biodiversity. The project aim is to motivate, educate and train the community living within and around the lake and in the upper catchment areas through community action programmes leading to signing an agreement with the local government authorities wherein the main actors of the Loktak Lake conservation will be the stakeholders. It will lead to the protection, conservation and ownership of the rich biodiversity as a community heritage. The project actions are: community education and empowerment, workshops and seminars, formation of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) and a dialogue with the Government Authorities, NGOs, Women Organizations, CBOs, CSOs. The Stakeholders and the Loktak Joint Action Committee (JAC) will promote conservation activities and lobby with the Government authorities for the gradual reduction of siltation, pollution control, arrest of encroachment, rehabilitation and relocation of hutments from within and the surroundings of the lake. The project will involve the stakeholder community in the management of its resources and control the interference of the outside forces from overexploitation. Fund raising activities will be initiated which will benefit the Community based organizations to promote different biophysical activities leading to the conservation of Loktak Lake.

A Joint Action Committee (JAC) has been formed with senior citizens, representatives of NGOs, CBOs, CSOs, and leaders of the five categories of the stakeholders. The JAC will have its office and functional support from CDO. It will promote various activities and follow up in accordance with the agreement signed between the leaders and the Local Self Government Authorities. The project activities included the office set up to conduct the promotion and implementation of the project, production of informative literature and its distribution, organization of 4 workshops, joint meeting with the elected representatives of the local self-government, formation of Joint Action Committee for the protection and biodiversity conservation of Loktak Lake, lobby activities, two fund raising seminars to promote further activities through the JAC, preparation of a fund raising document for local circulation in local language, and co-ordination of the project. A one day seminar and two day workshop have been organized for the leaders township small business community and people who are engaged in fishing in the lake and the hutment dwellers of the lake. One of the important lessons learned from the project is that the stakeholders are willing to come forward provided they understand that the situation is causing problems in their livelihood opportunities. The degradation, silting of soil and gradual loss of biodiversity are a concern for all and now the majority of the communities understand the dangers of Loktak Lake degradation. The staff of CDO are now capable of planning, promoting, conducting and implementing biodiversity conservation projects and wetland promotion programs.