Executive Summary : | Wetlands play a crucial role in supporting climate adaptation and resilience, as they are among the most effective carbon sinks on Earth. However, even small changes in climate can significantly impact these ecosystems, leading to threats to human livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. Wetlands are at risk of disappearing, while rare and endangered plants and animals may be threatened. Ecosystem services from wetlands also include cultural values, such as place attachment and traditional recipes, which could contribute to local sustainable development. Wetlands provide essential benefits for biodiversity and human wellbeing, including freshwater, rich alluvial plains, traditional fishing activities, and protection against floods. The proposed research will examine the impact of climate change on the poor, with factors such as high incidence of natural disasters, growing population, low productivity, habitat loss, and increased water scarcity. Human actions such as agriculture, encroachments, mining, dumping, global warming, dam constructions, draining, and spring development threaten the existence of wetlands. Incorporating wetland management practices into climate change studies is essential in India, where few wetland management studies address climate change. The findings will also explore the social implications of climate change and provide a framework for understanding how climate change affects wetlands' functional attributes, livelihoods, and bioresources. Key beneficiaries of this research project include local communities, decision-makers, researchers, NGOs, Forest department, climate change division, conservation biologists, and Health Department. |