Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
An empirical analysis of Deepor beel: a Ramsar site of Assam, India, focusing on its ecological and economic aspects
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Deka Upen, Bezbaruah Deben Kumar, Mazumder Muhammed Khairujjaman, Sarma Bhaskar
Research Articles | Published: 20 November, 2025
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Keywords: Aquatic macrophytes, Biodiversity, Land use land cover, People’s willingness to pay, Sustainable use, Water pollution, Wetlands
Abstract
The present study is an attempt to investigate the ecological as well as economic aspects of the Deepor beel, a Ramsar site located in Assam, India, during 2022–2023. The study revealed 93 species of aquatic macrophytes, and 110 fishes, with high diversity indices. Physico-chemical analysis of water revealed a comparatively lower dissolved oxygen (2.9–4.9 mg/L), acidic pH, and higher free carbon dioxide (9–16 mg/L) and total alkalinity (273–376 mg/L). The analysis of Land use land cover revealed a notable decrease of dense and open forest by 239.8 and 350.44 hectare respectively, with concomitant increase of agriculture plantation. The household survey revealed that 45% of the respondents are fully dependent on fishing in the wetland, which is supplemented with poultry and goat farming, and crafting. The traditional pottery industry using clay excavated from the beel directly employs at least 120 families, and the industry is valued at INR 43.2–72 lakh per annum. Using people’s ‘willingness to pay’, the income of the people from agricultural activities has been valued at INR 5265 per family per season. While the study revealed ecological and economic importance of the beel at large, a large number of threats have been identified, including siltation and pollution, decreasing forest cover, increase in built-up areas, encroachment, dumping of municipal wastes, overexploitation of fishes and macrophytes, and infestation by invasive species. Thus, it is recommended that immediate measures should be undertaken for conservation of the ecosystem, its serene biodiversity, and the economic uses should be sustainable.
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Author Information
Department of Botany, Silapathar College, Dhemaji, India