Evaluating sustainability of community endeavours in an Indian floodplain wetland using multi‐criteria decision analysis |
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| Authors: | Debajit Datta Proshanta Kumar Ghosh |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Geography, Taki Government College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India;2. Department of Geography, Satberia High School, Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
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| Abstract: | The floodplain wetlands of Ganga‐Ichamati interfluves in India have become severely degraded due to incessant, unsustainable utilization practices and lack of community awareness. In spite of the wetlands being the prime source of livelihood for millions, no comprehensive management strategy to accommodate the diverse aspirations and priorities of different users has been implemented for the wetlands to date. In this paper, the authors applied a framework of criteria and indicators to evaluate the status of sustainability achieved by community endeavours in one such wetland. The priorities, consumption patterns and contributions towards wetland conservation of major user groups functioning in that area were assessed by the framework developed through participatory multi‐criteria decision analysis. Results show the deteriorating status of the wetland at present regarding biodiversity conservation and livelihood generation. Fishing activities were identified as the dominant utilization option here followed by agriculture. The paper further explored the preferred alternative utilization strategies for achieving sustainability. Effectiveness of the developed framework in evaluating the extent of sustainability achieved in community endeavours was also highlighted in this context. |
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| Keywords: | alternative utilization strategy biodiversity conservation criteria and indicators floodplain wetlands multi‐criteria decision analysis user group |
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