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Research Paper | Zoology | Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026 | Pages: 567 - 571 | India
Wetland Ecosystems of Bihar - Biodiversity, Ecological Integrity, and Conservation Challenges
Abstract: Wetland ecosystems of Bihar constitute one of the most ecologically significant landscapes in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, supporting rich biodiversity, maintaining ecological integrity, and providing indispensable ecosystem services essential for environmental sustainability and human well-being. These wetlands, including oxbow lakes, floodplain wetlands, marshes, reservoirs, and riverine ecosystems, serve as critical habitats for diverse flora and fauna, including numerous endemic, endangered, and migratory species along the Central Asian Flyway (Islam & Rahmani, 2008, p. 320). They play a vital role in groundwater recharge, flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, water purification, climate regulation, and sustaining the livelihoods of millions through fisheries, agriculture, livestock rearing, and other wetland-dependent activities (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005, pp. 4-5; Mitsch & Gosselink, 2015, p. 15). However, rapid urbanization, agricultural intensification, industrial and domestic pollution, encroachment, hydrological alterations, invasive alien species, siltation, overexploitation of natural resources, and the increasing impacts of climate change have severely undermined the ecological integrity and resilience of these ecosystems (Davidson, 2014, pp. 937-939; Finlayson et al., 2018, pp. 18-20). This paper critically examines the biodiversity, ecological functions, socio-economic significance, and conservation challenges of Bihar's wetlands through an extensive review of scientific literature, government reports, policy frameworks, and environmental studies (Gopal, 2016, pp. 82-83; Space Applications Centre, 2011, p. 8). It highlights the urgent need for integrated wetland management based on scientific monitoring, ecosystem restoration, community participation, strengthened institutional governance, GIS and remote sensing-based assessment, and effective implementation of national and international conservation frameworks, including the Ramsar Convention (Government of India, 2017, pp. 14-15; Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2021, p. 16). The study argues that conserving Bihar's wetlands is fundamental not only for protecting biodiversity but also for enhancing climate resilience, ensuring water and food security, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting long-term ecological sustainability and inclusive regional development (United Nations Environment Programme, 2021, pp. 112-113).
Keywords: Wetlands, Bihar, Biodiversity, Ecological Integrity, Ecosystem Services, GIS
How to Cite?: Dr. Rana Pratap Ranjan, "Wetland Ecosystems of Bihar - Biodiversity, Ecological Integrity, and Conservation Challenges", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 567-571, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26806143336, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26806143336