Status of wetlands in Manipur
Ground truth assessment of the
wetlands in Manipur particularly in
the central Manipur valley reveal that,
almost all of the wetlands are in various
stages of degradation primarily due to
anthropogenic activities. Many of the
wetlands like Porompat, Lamphelpat,
Akampat, Kakwapat, Aongbikhong
Pat, Ningthikhong Pat, Loushi Pat,
Ushoipokpi Pat, Khoidum Pat, Karam
Pat, Lampha Pat, Khamlang Pat,
Heingang Pat, Poirou Pat, Yaral Pat, etc
are in highly critical stages, being largely
reclaimed for agriculture, fish farms,
settlement, construction of offices and
institutes, public spaces, and so forth.Wetlands like Porompat, Akampat,
Khoidum, Loushi, Ushoipokpi,
Aongbikhong, Ningthikhong, Poirou
and Lampha have been totally reclaimed
for agriculture and for fish culture
farms, with individual families having
land ownership documents (eitherDag Chita or Patta/Jamabandi). A
large portion of Ikop Pat still retains
original wetland character with rooted
phumdi, and this portion is currently
not occupied or encroached by the
locals except for small parts without
legal documents. The biomass in Ikop
Pat is rooted and is highly suitable for
a second home for the endangered
Manipur Brow-antlered Deer. The
Lamphelpat wetland is experiencing fast
pace of degradation and encroachments,
and unless conservation action is takenneScholar 0 vol 4 0 issue 4 57
WETLANDS I NATURE