Rawat, G.S.Pandav, BivashMathur, V.B.Sankar, K.Hussain, S.A.Adhikari, B.S.Sinha, B.C.Pandav, BivashSivakumar, K.Padalia, H.Chaturvedi, R.K.Babu, M.M.2025-07-102006https://digitalrepository.wii.gov.in/handle/123456789/1336An Ecological Survey of Baan Ganga Wetlands in Haridwar Forest Division, Uttaranchal was conducted during January to November 2006 by a team of faculty and researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehra Dun. The study components include rapid assessment of the flora, fauna (mammals, birds and fishes), water and soil quality of the area, mapping of the conservation reserve and designing of interpretive facility for the wetland. 2. Baan Ganga wetland represents a remnant Terai habitat in Uttranchal. Occurrence of endangered swamp deer and a variety of floral and faunal communities typical of Terai habitat amidst human dominated landscape warrants careful co-management approach. A total of 178 plant species were recorded from the Baan Ganga wetlands. Of these, 40 species were hydrophytic, 122 species semi-aquatic and 117 mesophytic. Detailed list of the flora along with their habitat and photographic records have been provided. 3. The survey area faces heavy anthropogenic pressures including heavy livestock grazing, fishing, pollution from the untreated sugar mill effluents, cutting and burning of natural vegetation and agricultural encroachment. Despite several pressures the area continues to attract a variety of wetland birds and has tremendous opportunity for developing a popular eco-tourist destination and thereby creating new opportunities in education, recreation, eco-tourism and research in the area. 4. Based on the rapid ecological surveys on various aspects, following major recommendations are given for the conservation and management of the Baan Ganga area: (i) Maintenance of stream flow all through the year (ii) Traditional fishing as in practice at preset may be continued (iii) Initiate a project to promote aquaculture (iv) Initiate conservation awareness programme for the local people especially about the adverse impact of pesticide use in the agriculture fields around the Baan Ganga. There should be a check on the release of effluents from the industries which are located on the upstream areas. Effluents must be treated before releasing into the natural system (v) Maintain heterogeneity in vegetation types. Aquatic weeds are required to be managed properly in year-wise plan. There should not be any construction along the banks of river which will change the hydrological system hence there will be change in the vegetation types. Cattle grazing needs to be regulated and a proper rotational grazing system needs to be implemented in consultation with the local communities (vi) Control of water hyacinth by utilizing this species as a compost / green manure (vii) Regulate exploitation of Phragmites and Typha and (viii) Develop an interpretation centre highlighting the biological and conservation significance of this area for development of eco-tourism.enEcological surveyBaan GangaWetlandUttaranchalConservation ReserveBiodiversityHuman impactTechnical Report