University Of Nottingham experts to help conserve threatened lake in India
Experts at the University of Nottingham (UK) have been invited to work with the local Indian Government, the Loktak Development Authority, to help conserve a lake that is under threat.
Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. While designated a Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance) in 1990, it is currently under the Montreaux Record1 due to the multiple human induced threats it faces.
Hamish Duncalf-Youngson sampling the river outflow near the Ithai Barrage
Paleoecologists from the University of Nottingham (Dr. Virginia Panizzo) and British Geological Survey (Dr. Jack Lacey) are working on the project to monitor the water quality of the lake and provide an in-depth assessment of its deterioration over the past 150 years. This is with the pivotal collaboration of Dr. Rajiv Kangabam (Manipur Technology Innovation Hub).
The famous floating islands, the only habitat of the indigenous brown antlered deer, are further suffering from climate change due to its impacts on monsoon flood times.
The cultural heritage of the area and income from the National Park tourism is highly endangered by human and climate change impacts which are rapidly altering this wetland.
the river Nambul, flowing through Imphal where the propsed water treatment works are planned
The Indian Government, alongside the local government of Manipur (Loktak Development Authority), are taking action to preserve and conserve Loktak Lake, recruiting a host of experts to advise them on how best to do this.
Dr Virginia Panizzo and PhD student Hamish Duncalf-Youngson will sample sediments from the lakebed to reconstruct a detailed history of how the lake has changed over recent generations. Their research will quantify the amounts and types of pollution entering the lake (including sewage, fertilisers and plastics) and the impacts it is having on water quality. The outcomes of the research will be to provide a much-needed pre-human disturbance record acting as a baseline of lake water quality for the local government. These will feed into detailed recommendations to local government, setting restoration targets and means to prevent further deterioration of the lake and its biodiversity.
Over the years, the feeding rivers that lead into the lake flow through major towns and ever-expanding farmland, bringing untreated sewage, fertilisers and plastic pollution to the lake. The indigenous Meitei people who live on the lake’s floating islands and solely rely on fishing as their livelihood, are increasingly threatened by the impacts that this pollution is having on lake water quality, leading to poor fish health and fish kills.
Virginia Panizzo
Loktak Lake is a biodiversity hotspot that is severely threatened. It holds important cultural significance to its indigenous populations and is the only home to the now endangered Brown Antlered Deer. Locals have been witnessing first-hand the impacts of land use change and increasing pollution on the lake water quality, which are threatening their traditional fishing livelihoods and health.
Dr Virginia Panizzo, Associate Professor in Environmental Change in the School of Geography
Dr Panizzo continued: “These major issues are also identified by the local Government who are now investing in an Integrated Management Plan. Our novel research will be able to highlight what restoration targets are needed to return this lake to its once pristine condition.”
Shri M Asnikumar, Chairman of the Loktak Development Authority, said: “The ecological value of the Loktak wetland complex is truly vast; it plays a huge role in the overall ecological context. Sadly, the lake is under serious threat from anthropogenic activities such as encroachment, pollution, and various unplanned developmental activities in and around the lake.”
The Nottingham academics’ recommendations will feed into a wider conservation plan by the Indian and Manipur governments.