SAFEGUARDING WETLANDS, SECURING TOMORROW, WITH A FOCUSED LENS ON NORTH BENGAL

Abstract

Wetlands are dynamic ecosystem that offer a plethora of ecological services and act as life-supporting system for biodiversity, hydrological balance and climate regulation. In the sub-Himalayan foothill region of North Bengal, particularly Alipurduar district, wetlands form an integral part of the landscape, closely intertwined with reserve forests, national parks, and rural livelihoods. This paper explores the ecological significance of wetlands in this region and analyses the socio-environmental challenges they face. Emphasis is placed on the role of protected and non-protected wetland zones—inside and outside conservation areas like Buxa Tiger Reserve, Jalda Para–National Park and Chilapata Forest of Elephant corridor. The study advocates for integrative conservation approaches rooted in community engagement, policy coherence and landscape level planning. Wetlands in North Bengal, particularly in Alipurduar district, form anintegral componentof the region’s ecology, hydrology, and biodiversity. Embedded within the sub-Himalayan landscape and closely linked to forested ecosystems—including Buxa Tiger Reserve, JaldaPara–National Park, Chila Pata Reserve Forest Elephant corridors and other adjacent forest areas—these wetlands are critical for sustaining biodiversity, regulating water flow, and supporting local livelihoods.