Climate Change and Ecosystem in Manipur

Eco-systems have an inherent capacity to adapt and adjust to the climatic variability as well as to incremental changes in the landscape to a certain extent. When this capacity is exceeded, the eco-system parameters get altered in multifarious ways and become socially and environmentally unsustainable. Ecosystems are well recognized life support systems which are critical factors for human well being. Hence, the importance of the conservation of ecosystem which is veritably subjected to anthropogenic climate change is explicitly highlighted in the Article 2 of the UNFCCC, 1992. The impacts on the ecosystems could lead to loss and migration of rare and endangered species and fragmentation of habitats. Though many of these are medium term impacts but they pose serious consequences especially in species extinction whether globally or locally. 

Manipur comes under two of the global bio-diversity "hotspots" viz. Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot and Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot characterized by eco-systems which are rich in bio-diversity and possess rare and/or endangered species. The projected climatic variability could have adverse impacts on ecologically distinct and rich biodiversity of the region. Therefore, it is crucial, to be cautious about the causal links between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the maintenance of ecosystem services. Thus adaptation responses have to be crafted in such a manner that the endangered species are preserved and adverse impacts are minimized as species extinctions whether global or local due to climate change (natural or anthropogenic) bring about irreversible change. Moreover since both the Brahmaputra and Chindwin river systems drain Manipur, the aquatic fauna of the state embodies both Assamese and Burmese elements. Many fish species which were hitherto not recorded elsewhere in India are found only in Manipur. The Manipur River Basin is reported to be under the greatest threat - specifically for the freshwater fish. Out of the fifteen endangered fish species of Eastern Himalayas, eight fish species are reported from Manipur.

The conservation of ecosystem is vital to the ecological security of the state landscape in terms of restoring forest cover, maintaining the sources of perennial water required for drinking and irrigation purposes and sustaining agriculture which in turn is linked to the livelihood of the people. The sustainable management of ecosystem, biodiversity and livelihood requirements must go hand in hand with climate friendly practices and adaptations to the dynamic situation that may arise during execution of the programme. Read more

- T. Brajakumar, Ph.D. (email: brajakumar_t@yahoo.com)