Assam - Ministry of Environment and Forests

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List of FiguresFigure 1: Spectral Signature of various targetsFigure 2: Various land features as they appear in four spectral bands and in a typical three band FCC.Figure 3: Location mapFigure 4: Spatial framework of AssamFigure 5: IRS P6 LISS-III coverage of AssamFigure 6: IRS LISS-III FCC (Post-monsoon and Pre-monsoon): Part of Assam stateFigure 7: Flow chart of the methodology usedFigure 8: Steps in the extraction of wetland componentsFigure 9: Various combinations of the indices/spectral bands used to identify wetland componentsFigure 10: Type-wise wetland distributionFigure 11: District-wise graphical distribution of wetlandsList of TablesTable 1: Wetland Classification System and codingTable 2: Satellite data usedTable 3: Qualitative turbidity ratingsTable 4: Area estimates of wetlands in AssamTable 5: District-wise wetland statisticsTable 6: Area estimates of wetlands in KokrajharTable 7: Area estimates of wetlands in DhubriTable 8: Area estimates of wetlands in GoalparaTable 9: Area estimates of wetlands in BongaigaonTable 10: Area estimates of wetlands in BarpetaTable 11: Area estimates of wetlands in KamrupTable 12: Area estimates of wetlands in NalbariTable 13: Area estimates of wetlands in DarrangTable 14: Area estimates of wetlands in MarigaonTable 15: Area estimates of wetlands in NagaonTable 16: Area estimates of wetlands in SonitpurTable 17: Area estimates of wetlands in LakhimpurTable 18: Area estimates of wetlands in DhemajiTable 19: Area estimates of wetlands in TinsukiaTable 20: Area estimates of wetlands in DibrugarhTable 21: Area estimates of wetlands in SibsagarTable 22: Area estimates of wetlands in JorhatTable 23: Area estimates of wetlands in GolaghatTable 24: Area estimates of wetlands in Karbi AnglongTable 25: Area estimates of wetlands in North Cachar HillsTable 26: Area estimates of wetlands in CacharTable 27: Area estimates of wetlands in KarimganjTable 28: Area estimates of wetlands in HailakandiList of PlatesPlate 1: Major wetland types of AssamPlate 2a and 2b: Field photographs and ground truth data of different wetland types in AssamPlate 3: Field observation on the status of hydrophytes (free floating mat type emergent anchored and swamp type)Plate 4: Deepor BeelPlate 5: Wetland map - 5 km buffer area of Deepor BeelPlate 6: IRS LISS-III FCC - 5 km buffer area of Deepor BeelPlate 7: Dhir BeelPlate 8: Wetland map - 5 km buffer area of Dhir BeelPlate 9: IRS LISS-III FCC - 5 km buffer area of Dhir BeelPlate 10: Sareswar BeelPlate 11: Wetland map - 5 km buffer area of Sareswar BeelPlate 12: IRS LISS-III FCC - 5 km buffer area of Sareswar BeelPlate 13: Sone LakePlate 14: Wetland map - 5 km buffer area of Sone LakePlate 15: IRS LISS-III FCC - 5 km buffer area of Sone LakePlate 16: Tamaranga BeelPlate 17: Wetland map - 5 km buffer area of Tamaranga BeelPlate 18: IRS LISS-III FCC - 5 km buffer area of Tamaranga BeelPlate 19: Sonai Beel (Nandini/Mer/Sonai/Raumari/Dobarani/Patiabandha beel)Plate 20: Wetland map - 5 km buffer area of Sonai BeelPlate 21: IRS LISS-III FCC - 5 km buffer area of Sonai Beel
1.0 INTRODUCTIONIt is increasingly realized that the planet earth is facing grave environmental problems with fast depletingnatural resources and threatening the very existence of most of the ecosystems. Serious concerns are voicedamong scientists, planners, sociologists, politicians, and economists to conserve and preserve the naturalresources of the world. One of the constraints most frequently faced for decision making is lack of scientificdata of our natural resources. Often the data are sparse or unauthentic, rarely in the form of geospatialdatabase (map), thus open to challenges. Hence, the current emphasis of every country is to have anappropriate geospatial database of natural resources based on unambiguous scientific methods. The wetlandatlas of Assam, which is part of the National Wetland Atlas of India, is an attempt in this direction.1.1 WetlandsWetlands are one of the crucial natural resources. Wetlands are areas of land that are either temporarily orpermanently covered by water. This means that a wetland is neither truly aquatic nor terrestrial; it is possiblethat wetlands can be both at the same time depending on seasonal variability. Thus, wetlands exhibitenormous diversity according to their genesis, geographical location, water regime and chemistry, dominantplants and soil or sediment characteristics. Because of their transitional nature, the boundaries of wetlandsare often difficult to define. Wetlands do, however, share a few attributes common to all forms. Of these,hydrological structure (the dynamics of water supply, throughput, storage and loss) is most fundamental tothe nature of a wetland system. It is the presence of water for a significant period of time which is principallyresponsible for the development of a wetland. One of the first widely used classifications systems, devised byCowardin et al, 1979, was associated to its hydrological, ecological and geological aspects, such as: marine(coastal wetlands including rock shores and coral reefs, estuarine (including deltas, tidal marshes, andmangrove swamps), lacustarine (lakes), riverine (along rivers and streams), palustarine ('marshy'- marshes,swamps and bogs). Given these characteristics, wetlands support a large variety of plant and animal speciesadapted to fluctuating water levels, making the wetlands of critical ecological significance. Utility wise,wetlands directly and indirectly support millions of people in providing services such as food, fiber and rawmaterials, storm and flood control, clean water supply, scenic beauty and educational and recreationalbenefits. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment estimates conservatively that wetlands cover seven percentof the earth’s surface and deliver 45% of the world’s natural productivity and ecosystem services of which thebenefits are estimated at $20 trillion a year (Source: www.MAweb.org). The Millennium Assessment (MA)uses the following typology to categorise ecosystem services:Provisioning services: The resources or products provided by ecosystems, such as food, raw materials(wood), genetic resources, medicinal resources, ornamental resources (skin, shells,flowers).Regulating services: Ecosystems maintain the essential ecological processes and life support systems, likegas and climate regulation, water supply and regulation, waste treatment, pollination,etc.Cultural and Amenity services: Ecosystems are a source of inspiration to human culture and educationthroughout recreation, cultural, artistic, spiritual and historic information, Science andeducation.Supporting services: Ecosystems provide habitat for flora and fauna in order to maintain biological andgenetic diversity.Despite these benefits, wetlands are the first target of human interference and are among the mostthreatened of all natural resources. Around 50% of the earth’s wetland area is estimated to already havedisappeared over the last hundred years through conversion to industrial, agricultural and residentialdevelopments. Even in current scenario, when the ecosystem services provided by wetlands are betterunderstood - degradation and conversion of wetlands continues. This is largely due to the fact that the‘full value’ of ecosystem functions is often ignored in policy-making, plans and corporate evaluations ofdevelopment projects.1.2 Mapping and Geospatial TechniqueTo conserve and manage wetland resources, it is important to have inventory of wetlands and theircatchments. The ability to store and analyse the data is essential. Digital maps are very powerful tools toachieve this. Maps relate the feature to any given geographical location has a strong visual impact. Maps arethus essential for monitoring and quantifying change over time scale, assist in decision making.The technique used in the preparation of map started with ground survey. The Survey of India (SOI)topographical maps are the earliest true maps of India showing various land use/cover classes includingwetlands. Recent years have seen advances in mapping technique to prepare maps with much moreinformation. Of particular importance is the remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS)1
Page 1 and 2: NATIONAL WETLAND ATLAS:ASSAMSponsor
Page 3 and 4: AtlasSAC/RESA/AFEG/NWIA/ATLAS/18/20
Page 7: FOREWORDWetlands defined as areas o
Page 11: PROJECT TEAMProject Director: Dr. (
Page 17 and 18: RedGreenNIR RED GREENNIRSWIRFigure
Page 19 and 20: 2.0 NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY AND
Page 21 and 22: 3.0 STUDY AREAAssam is one of the 7
Page 23 and 24: 4.0 DATA USED4.1 Remote sensing dat
Page 25 and 26: October 27, 2006March 20, 2007Figur
Page 27 and 28: IRS P6 LISS III(pre- and post-monso
Page 29 and 30: Map composition for atlas has been
Page 31: MAPS AND STATISTICS17
Page 34 and 35: District-wise wetland area estimate
Page 40: 7.1.1 KokrajharKokrajhar district i
Page 52: 7.1.4 BongaigaonThe district is sit
Page 60: 7.1.6 KamrupThe district is situate
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7.1.8 DarrangThe district is situat
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7.1.10 NagaonThe district is situat
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7.1.12 LakhimpurThe district is sit
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7.1.14 TinsukiaThe district is situ
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7.1.16 SibsagarThe district is situ
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7.1.18 GolaghatGolaghat district is
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7.1.20 North Cachar HillslNorth Cac
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7.1.21 CacharCachar district is sit
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7.1.22 KarimganjKarimganj district
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7.1.23 HailakandiHailakandi distric
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Post-monsoon dataOx-bow lakesRiverW
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Sr. No.5.DescriptionWetland Type: R
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Plate 3: Field observation on the s
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9.1 Deepor BeelNameLocationAreaAlti
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9.2 Dhir BeelNameLocationAreaWetlan
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9.3 Sareswar BeelNameLocationAreaWe
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9.4 Sone LakeNameLocationAreaAltitu
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9.5 Tamaranga BeelNameLocationAreaW
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9.6 Sonai Beel (Nandini/Mer/Sonai/R
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1202 Tanks/Ponds: A term used in Ce
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Space Applications centreIndian Spa
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Assam - Ministry of Environment and Forests

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