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Gange flagship programme “Ecological Restoration” is to restore the ecologic balance of Ganga and provide an enabling environment for endemic flora, fauna and microorganisms to thrive in the Ganga river network. Significant loss of species biodiversity in the Ganga river network has been observed over the past many decades, with many important aquatic species (fishes, dolphins, ghariyals, turtles, etc.) having dwindled or disappeared from river stretches in recent history. Now,
a river ecosystem – with its intrinsic biodiversity – plays a crucial role in the functional health of the river basin and the ecosystem services provided by the river. To grasp the biodiversity changes on Ganga and devise suitable means
to restore her ecological balance, it is necessary to understand the dynamics of Ganga river ecosystem and assess the possible anthropogenic and non- anthropogenic factors affecting it. Broadly, an ecosystem is a community
recycled within the ecosystems.
Now ecosystems are controlled
both by external factors (or “state factors” such as climate, underlying geological material, topography and time) and internal factors (such as decomposition, periodic disturbances, species competition and human activities). Since ecosystem processes are driven by the types and number
of species in an ecosystem and the relative abundance of organisms
within these species, hence species biodiversity plays an important role
in ecosystem functioning. The Ganga river being a diverse landscape-scale ecosystem, it is not easy to decipher
her ecology in detail. To start with, the river traverses three distinct climatic- geographical zones from the snow-clad and alpine Himalayan reaches to the tropical alluvial plains until it enters the estuarine zone and meets the sea. Ecologically, the diversity of the basin, even within each climatic zone, plays an
of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction and interacting with non-living components of their environment. The biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows: energy and carbon enter the ecosystems through photosynthesis, while mineral nutrients are mostly
overarching role on the River. Presence of rich biodiversity in a river ecosystem is the ultimate indicator of the river’s health. Due to effort of Namami Gange, viable populations of all endemic and endangered aquatic species occupy their full historical range and fulfil their role in maintaining the integrity of the Ganga River ecosystems.
Biological Profile of Ganga
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Conservation Activities
A comprehensive project is under implementation with Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to map biodiversity hotspot for the entire length of Ganga and scientific improvement of habitat, species. NMCG spearheaded campaign for conservation of Gangetic Dolphin, the National Aquatic Animal leading to announcement of Project Dolphin. A comprehensive scientific program for fisheries resource and their conservation has been taken up in association with Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI). Drastic reduction
in flow of river has a huge ecological cost with long-term adverse impact. A river is not a river without good flow. National Mission for Clean Ganga is working on improving flow and overall ecology through a mix of supply as
well as demand side management of water. For the first time, ecological
flow was notified for Ganga in October 2018, formally establishing the right
of the River over its own water with far reaching implications for its health. This has become a major component of river rejuvenation study and such studies are now carried
out for other rivers like Yamuna, Ramganga etc. Wetlands are important for improving water quality and quantity and also for economy, ecotourism, ground water recharge and supporting biodiversity. Mission is working for
their protection and conservation and integrating to basin level. Toolkits for urban wetlands protection are also being developed with special attention to flood plain wetlands. There are 226 wetlands within 10 km from Ganga in 27 districts in UP that have been taken up for development of an integrated management plan. For the first time,
May 2021