IJRBAT, Special Issue-(6), October 2015 ISSN 2347 – 517X (Online) Socioeconomic benefits of Wetlands to the people of villages from kurkheda and Korchi, Dist- Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, India *R. B. Shambharkar **P. A. Dani & ***D. P. Gogle *Shri Govindrao Munghate Arts and Science College Kurkheda, Gadchiroli 441209 **Shri Govindrao Munghate Arts and Science College Kurkheda, Gadchiroli 441209 ***Department of Botany, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur 440033 [email protected] Abstract: Wetlands are transitional zone between water and land that often wet but not wet all around the year. People living near wetlands have developed socio-economic and environmental values around the wetlands which are part of the people's history and current existence means one can say that it is the actual place where development of society taken place. In presents investigation the benefits and contribution of wetlands as a source of income for the different villages were studies by giving number of visits from 2013 to the inland and artificial wetlands of the region and interacting with the tribal people of the nearby region for knowing the their dependency on wetlands. The results of the study concluded that 62% people depend on agricultures as a source of income. With agriculture people have other sources of income which help them for survival. Key words: Socioeconomic, wetlands, wetland diversity Introduction: systems and aquaculture, erosion control, Wetlands are the link between the land and education and training, recreation and the water. They are transition zones where the reclamation (USEPA and USDA-NRCS, 1995; flow of water, the cycling of nutrients, and the Cooper et al., 1996; Vymazal et al., 1998a; energy of the sun meet to produce a unique USEPA, 2000; Sundaravadivel and ecosystem characterized by hydrology, soils, Vigneswaran, 2001). and vegetation making these areas very Ecosystems and the biological important features of a watershed. Wetlands diversity contained within them provide a provide habitat for thousands of species of stream of goods and services, the continued aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals so delivery of which remains essential to our that they are called Nurssories of Life. economic prosperity and other aspects of our Wetlands are the ecotones means the welfare. In a broad sense, ecosystem services overlapping zone between land and water and refer to the range of conditions and processes are often referred to as "biological through which natural ecosystems, and the supermarkets" because they support all life species that they contain, help sustain and forms through extensive food webs and fulfill human life (Daily, 1997). biodiversity (Mitsch and Gosselink, 1993). There are various people of the villages Wetland ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, who could not able to pursue job employment marshes, rice fields, and coastal areas, provide due to lack of education depends on these many services that contribute to human well- wetlands for their survival of life. Present being and their economy. An estimated 40% of investigation was carried out for the collection the global economy is based on biological of data on benefits of wetlands for the survival products and processes (WEHAB, 2002). Some of people of villages of kurkheda and Korchi. groups of people, particularly those living near Materials and Methods: wetlands, are highly dependent on these Study Area: services and are directly harmed by their The entire Gadchiroli district is degradation. Wetland regulate water levels included in the drainage basin of the Godavari within watersheds, act as a bed for number of River which flows west to east and forms the diversified plant species, improve water southern boundary of the district. The major quality, reduce flood and storm damages, tributaries of the Godavari are provide habitat for important fish and wildlife, the Indravati and the Pranhita, which is in support hunting, fishing, other recreational turn formed by the confluence of activities and perform some useful functions in the Wainganga and the Wardha near Chaprala the maintenance of ecological balance. village of Chamorshi Taluka.Dhanora, Etapalli, Wetlands have played a key role in the support Aheri and Sironcha talukas in the eastern part and development of society. Benefits provided of the district are covered by forest. Hills are by wetlands include water supply and control, found in Bhamragad, Tipagad, Palasgad mining, use of plants, wild-life, integrated SEVADAL MAHILA MAHAVIDYALAYA, NAGPUR 170 Life Science – NCRTS 2015 IJRBAT, Special Issue-(6), October 2015 ISSN 2347 – 517X (Online) and Surjagad area. The western part of for the very dense and thick forest of Gadchiroli is mainly hilly area. Khobramendha, Malewada Kurkheda, Kadoli, North Gadchiroli covers three talukas Manapur and Sonsary of Kurkheda and including Wadsa, Kurkheda and Korchi in Tipagad, Maseli, Bedgao, and Bodaldand area. Indian State of Maharashtra. This area has The region is accommodated by number of thick forests and locally known as Zadipatti Inland and manmade wetlands. area of forests and trees. The region is famous In presents investigation the benefits Table I: Showing the sources of income and and contribution of wetlands as a source of percentage of income generated from the income for the different villagers were studies sources by giving number of visits to different villages Sr. % of income Occupation from the year 2013 and interaction were made No Generated with the people for knowing their dependency 1 Agriculture 62 % on wetlands. To calculate the percentage of 2 Fishing 7% income source one questioner‘s format were Collection and selling given to the people visited. On the other hand 3 of other food & non 2% continue visits were given to the inland and food products artificial wetlands for the study of availability Selling of Non timber 4 13% of the resources. forest products: Results & Discussion Collection and Selling 5 9% Commercially unexploited and technologically of Tendupatta: underdeveloped area is the very well Collection, nomination of Gadchiroli District. Very few preparation and 6 2% commercial business projects are now on the selling of Bamboo verge of establishment by the state goods: government. So the people of the region fulfill Collection, their income by doing different occupation preparation and 7 3% depending on wetland and forest of the region. selling of Medicinal plants: Selling of Mushroom 8 2% in rainy season: SEVADAL MAHILA MAHAVIDYALAYA, NAGPUR 171 Life Science – NCRTS 2015 IJRBAT, Special Issue-(6), October 2015 ISSN 2347 – 517X (Online) Fig I: Showing the sources of income and the percentage of income generated from the sources Agriculture: The main river basins of the area dense forest and indirectly for different types are the Wainganga, Sati, Tipa, Khobramendha of forest products like timber and non timber, etc. Total numbers of lakes in kurkheda and food resources which help to earn income for Korchi tehsil are 268 and 247 respectively. The villagers. 13 % of the people were depend on main occupation of people of the region is various harvested non timber forest resources agriculture as water sources are available as a like flowers of Mahua, Heti, Amaltash, Kuda; part of wetlands. The common agricultural Fruits of Aam, Sitaphal, Imli, Charoli, Chinch, food product of this region is paddy which is Temrun, Bel, Ber, Awda, Behda, Hirda, Mahua totally depending on the availability of water. seeds; Rhizome of kevkanda, Rhizome of 62% of the villagers depend on agricultural Dhopa, Tuber of Mataru, corm of suran. Gum income for their life budget. exuded from Bark karu called gum karaya, Fishing: Some people of the region also lakh exuded from bark of palas, gum of capturing and sold the fishes, Crabs and Dikemali, Babul is collected and sold by the prawns from the inland wetlands like from people of the region. lakes and rivers as artificial wetlands are very Collection and Selling of Tendupatta: In less in this region and the percentage of such summer season leaves of Temrun (Diospyros population is 7%. melanoxylon) are collected, arranged by Production and selling of other food & non villagers and sold them to contractors.and it food products: People of the region also contributes 9 % to generate the income. culture various food products like rhizomes of Collection and selling of Bamboo goods: kamal (Nymphaea lotus L.), wild rice, People collect Bamboo stick from forest and Kacharkande, young shoot and rhizome of made various local goods used for various Typha (Typha angustata L.). Tender shoot of purposes and sold them in market. It water Spinach (Ipomia aquatica) in small water generates 2% of income. India‘s first round bodies and got income by selling them in stick Agarbatti project established at this market. After the drying of these water bodies, region by Maharashtra Forest department they also harvest the root tubers of the plants Collection and selling of Medicinal plants: and sold them for income Source. Percentage Most of the plants of the forest and wetlands of Such population is 2%. have been used as traditional medicines by the Selling of Non timber forest products: local people of the region as Wetlands provide District Gadchiroli has 12793 Sq. km area fertile ground for the growth diversified (MH-Forest Region Book, 1997-1998) under medicinal plants. Local people collect fruits, forest cover which is bigger than forest area of roots, root tuber, stem tuber, leaves, flowers various district of the state. This is because of and seeds of different angiospermic plants and the wetlands of this region provides land for pteridophytic plant like having medicinal value forest and forest resources. Fertile wetlands and sold them to patients for various common are directly responsible for the formation of diseases. The most important feature of this SEVADAL MAHILA MAHAVIDYALAYA, NAGPUR 172 Life Science – NCRTS 2015 IJRBAT, Special Issue-(6), October 2015 ISSN 2347 – 517X (Online) type work is that in every village 5-6 persons 3. Cooper, P.