Guwahati: Son Beel, the largest freshwater wetland in the Indian sub-Himalayas, is fast becoming a climate crisis hotspot as farmers and fishers confront escalating threats to their livelihoods. A new study led by Prof. Arun Jyoti Nath of Assam University has revealed that communities surrounding the wetland are increasingly exposed to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, flash floods, and pest outbreaks that jeopardise both agriculture and fisheries.
The research, which surveyed 160 households across 16 villages, applied the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) framework to assess exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The team developed a socio-ecological vulnerability index and created spatial maps identifying which villages are most at risk. The findings paint a stark picture of uneven resilience across the wetland landscape.
Krishna Nagar and Bhairab Nagar emerged as the most vulnerable areas, marked by declining crop and fish productivity, high dependence on wetland resources, and inadequate adaptive infrastructure.
In contrast, villages such as Fakua Gram and Anandapur demonstrated lower vulnerability due to diversified livelihoods, better crop and fishery management practices, and improved access to transportation and tourism opportunities.
Spanning more than 3,400 hectares at full capacity, Son Beel drastically shrinks during the dry season. Its ecological and cultural significance is immense, with over 50,000 people directly dependent on it for survival.
Communities fish from April to November and cultivate winter paddy, known locally as “Boro,” during the lean season. Many families also engage in net-making, fish marketing, and seasonal tourism. However, the very ecosystems that sustain these livelihoods are under growing stress.
The study found that households are already grappling with severe challenges. Frequent floods destroy crops and homes, while temperature fluctuations and irregular rainfall reduce soil fertility and hinder rice cultivation.
Pest infestations and crop diseases further compound these stresses. For fishers, rising water temperatures disrupt breeding cycles, and invasive species like water hyacinth choke aquatic habitats, reducing native fish diversity and ecological balance.
Economic vulnerability deepens these ecological risks. Most families live in semi-pucca houses and have limited access to higher education, healthcare, and modern infrastructure.
Younger members often migrate to nearby towns in search of employment, leaving behind an aging population that continues to depend on the wetland for farming and fishing.
Adaptive capacity, however, varies across villages. Some have strengthened resilience through crop diversification, bamboo fish enclosures, home gardens, and livestock rearing for supplementary income.
Tourism and transport services offer seasonal boosts, providing alternatives to agriculture-dependent livelihoods. Yet these benefits are unevenly distributed, leaving pockets of high vulnerability that demand urgent intervention.
The research emphasizes that vulnerability is shaped not just by geographical proximity to the wetland but by the interplay between ecological stressors and socio-economic conditions.
Poor infrastructure, low literacy, and limited livelihood options amplify climate sensitivity, while better housing, robust social networks, and diversified income streams enhance resilience.
Son Beel’s ecological degradation compounds the crisis. Shrinking wetland depth, pollution from agricultural runoff, soil erosion from catchment areas, and deforestation reduce its regenerative capacity.
The unchecked spread of invasive species like water hyacinth further hampers fishing and water flow, threatening both biodiversity and community survival.
The study concludes that addressing these vulnerabilities requires targeted investments in livelihood diversification, education, housing, and wetland restoration. “Promoting sustainable practices such as flood- and drought-resistant crops, integrating rice with millets, and reducing synthetic inputs can lower environmental and health risks,” the study notes.
It also calls for the promotion of native fish cultivation and underscores that scientific research is crucial for conserving biodiversity and sustaining fisheries.
As global attention turns toward climate adaptation, the findings from Son Beel serve as an urgent warning. The vulnerability maps go beyond identifying risk—they point toward actionable pathways for resilience.
By tackling ecological and social challenges together, there remains an opportunity to safeguard the livelihoods of wetland farmers and ensure the future of one of Assam’s most vital ecosystems.
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