Potential threats to the migratory waterbirds in South Bengal, India

Abstract Growing human population, rapid urbanisation and unsustainable wetland use are causing the loss and deterioration of waterbird habitats, threatening their survival. We studied the major threats to the waterbirds in 9 tropical wetlands of South Bengal over 25 years and tried to assess their impacts on the waterbird diversity. Waterbirds here declined noticeably in correspondence with their habitat deterioration and decreases in their major food-bases. Habitat loss, overfishing, increasing Water Hyacinth cover and hunting were identified as the most serious threats affecting their survival and abundances. Although the processes influencing the waterbird diversity are not yet well understood, this study points out the need of a long-term monitoring programme to find out viable solutions to the problem aiming at wetland management.