Page 95 - Sugam Sarita

CHAPTER 6

Biodiversity Encompassing River

As seen from an earlier chapter, pollution has marred the entire
river ecosystem and yet we find some oasis in the ecosystem of the
rivers. This chapter depicts the biodiversity around the river captured
through the student projects.

Indian streams are some of the recently adopted horizons of wealthy
freshwater diversity which is now jeopardized species. According to
India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan, “Nearly 50% of the aquatic
plants of the world are recorded from the Indian subcontinent but
only a few have been studied in detail.” India is a globally leading

country when it comes to freshwater fish species i.e (650+ species).
In freshwater fish diversity, India is ranked eighth in the world and
third in Asia. At the same time, these rivers support millions of local

people, securing means of life. Rivers flowing through the Eastern
and North Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats have been
designated as worldwide hotspots of freshwater ecosystems.

The Western Ghats are a hotspot when it comes to native freshwater

biodiversity. It has 16% of the 1,146 freshwater species present
nationally. Although, a further 2% is threatened with extinction.
While in the Eastern Himalayan Hotspot, approximately 31% of the
species were studied . There is clear need of detailed studies, as there
is insufficient data which can lead to mismanagement.

81