Birds as Indicators

Healthy water bodies for a healthy planet

Causes of degradation:  Outdated technology  Flows from Municipal and Industrial areas  Mining  Roads and highway construction  Inorganic fertilisers & pesticides  Quarrying

 To bring back to original or previous known form.

 Reduce degradation of an area, habitat or ecosystem and propel it on road to recovery.  Re-establish, Return, Restore... to a close approximation of its original condition.

 Restoration is a holistic process - not achieved only through isolated manipulation of individual elements.  Only plantation cures?

 Plants and animals should display native communities and diversity found in the region  Use designs that favour natural processes

Emulate a natural, self regulating system that is integrated ecologically with the landscape. # Reconstruction of physical conditions # Chemical readjustment of soil and water # Biological manipulation # Reintroduction of flora or fauna

 You are asked to repair a water-body…  Look NOT JUST the waterbody, but the zone beyond- Riparian area  Waste from industrial sewage, septic tanks and agriculture flows into Riparian area

 Location selection #Part of a watershed # Single / Multiple ecosystems # With or without human component History of site and context of restoration Factors for present state of degradation Stake holders and land use

 Technology for Restoration?  Build structures?  Applying fertilisers, bio- engineering?  Only plantations?  Restoration vs Landscaped garden vs Golf courses

 Aggressive exotics: Ipomea carnea and Typha augustata to be trimmed  Check dams can be replaced by rapids  Natural fallen trees, branches, roots provide food and habitat  Pools are very important when fish are under stress due to high/ low flows

 Placement of rocks and boulders in the channel  Root zone treatment to absorb toxins and nutrients  Depressions create habitats for producers and consumers  Interaction between aquatic and terristerial ecosystems enhances self cleaning ability  Restoration should emphasis on recovery of ecological process and complementary land use pattern

 In the US, wetlands may be legally destroyed, but their losses must be compensated.

 Ecology  Aquatic biology  Hydrology  Geo-morphology  Engineering  Planning  Communications  Social Sciences

 Nutrient cycle  Plant succession  Water levels  Flow patterns  Dynamics of erosion and deposition  Chemical composition

 Degradation is a cummulative effect of neumerous and indirect impacts.  Look at upstream and upslope activities  Also downstream modifications like dams and urban centres.

Recovery Ecological Process

Start at the very beginning  Make a complete inventory flora-fauna, specialised habitats, soil biota, land use, factors that facilitate and impede restoration  Collect soil sample - pH, organic matter, moisture holding capacity. Hydrology- rainfall, surface and sub soil run offs

 Certain pioneer plants come up  Simple food chains - Algae, zoo planktons, aquatic insects, fish, birds

How does one reduce Alkalinity

 Restoration may not always proceed as per plan.  Mid course correction necessary  Check fon native and invasive species  Example of Pashan Lake

 Is the community aware?  Is there a Reference Site?  Can you Anticipate the future? LEARN MORE

 Self sustainable design  Avoid need for continuous maintainance  Project not dependent on supply of resources  Eco-system should be capable of adapting to future changes  Design a naturally regenerate and recovering site  Need to assess the sites' recovery and determine that there are no new problems.

But Happiness is …

& Real Happiness is …

 Limitations...  Local restoration projects may not be able to change what goes on in the whole watershed... but you can anticipate changes due to Destruction … Did you say development...???