Kabar Lake is a 6311.63 hectare floodplain wetland and former lake located in Bihar, India that was declared a protected bird sanctuary in 1989. It was historically one of South Asia's largest freshwater lakes and hosted over 100 resident bird species and 59 migratory species. However, due to issues like encroachment, deforestation, pollution, and lack of maintenance of drainage systems, the lake has severely degraded, shrinking in size and losing much of its biodiversity. While it remains an important habitat, many species that depend on it such as various cranes, storks, and vultures are now threatened or critically endangered. Remedial measures are needed such as integrated management,

1. Experiences of Kabar Lake - a floodplain
wetland of Bihar
Dr.Ashok Ghosh
Dept. of Environment and Water Management
A N College,Patna
India

2. Kabar Lake - A Bird Sanctuary
Location:
Bihar, India
Nearest City:
Begusarai
Coordinates:
25 36′36″N
86 08′24″E
•
Kabar is a residual oxbow lake
•
It was formed by the changing
15594 Acre
course of the River Gandak,
Protected Area: th
20 June 1989
a tributary of the Ganga
Area:
6311.63 Ha/

3. Map of Kabar Wetland

4. Kabar Lake
• Kabar Lake, a 6311.63 hectare lake
was considered one of South Asia’s
largest freshwater lakes.
• Ecologically, it was one of the most
important wetlands in the state, which
hosted about 106 species of resident
birds and providing a nesting ground for
59 species of migratory birds in 2001.
• Economically too, the lake was
significant because it is used for fishery,
source of irrigation in the area, rice
cultivation and many other uses.
• Kawar Lake was declared as a protected
area by the government of Bihar in June
1989.

5. Sanctuary Area
• The sanctuary area was
demarcated following three
successive notifications by the
government in the 1980s.
• However, even after more than
three decades, as many as 1,600
objections are pending with the
SDOs concerned in response to
the government notification
seeking objections in this regard.
• The wetland, despite being a
proposed Ramsar site since 1987,
was not included among the 13
others declared as wetlands of
international importance in 2002

6. Land Use Pattern
Source:District Agriculture Office
SN Land use/land cover class
Total area (%)
1
Forest area
2
Barren and uncultivable land
2.73
3
Land put to non-agricultural uses
5.13
4
Cultivable waste land
2.51
5
Current fallow
1.79
6
Permanently water logged area
2.80
7
Temporarily water logged area
1.05
8
Net area sown
60.0
9
More than once cultivated land
18.38
10 Total geographic area
0
100

7. Kabar Lake - Bird Sanctuary
• The forest around the lake and
adjoining areas consists of thick
vegetation of mainly Shisham ,
Teak , Silk cotton , Jamun , Arjun
, Peepal and Banyan trees.
• The lake had a variety of flora
such as Phragmatis, Hydrilla,
Nymphea, Nelumbo, Vallisnaria,
Bladderworts and species of
algae like Chara and Spirogyra.
• Organisms like snails, mussels,
crabs, shrimps, bugs ,water
snakes, breathing fishes were
also present in large numbers.

8. Kabar -Tourist Spot
Jay Mangla Temple
Migratory Bird Watch

9. Kabar Lake - A paradise lost
• A thorough survey of Kabar Lake in
2013 by my research group indicated
that the lake is now in a very
precarious condition and gradually
losing its popularity due to continued
reduction in the number of migratory
birds.
• Despite the government’s declaration
of Kabar Lake as a Bird Sanctuary in
1989 and subsequent prohibitory
measures, Kabar Lake continues to be
exploited for fodder, fuel, fish, and
other resources..
• There is threat because of
reclamation of land for agriculture
and excessive removal of biomass by
human population.

10. Remote Sensing Image of Wetlands of
Bihar
Shrinking Wetlands of Bihar
Source: Ghosh et al,2004

11. Kabar Lake
2013
Pre-monsoon
2004
Pre-monsoon
2014
Post-monsoon

12. Kabar Lake- Shrinking
2013
Pre-monsoon
2004
Pre-monsoon
2014
Post-monsoon

13. Burhi Gandak – Kabar Canal
• The catchment area of Kabar
Lake is delineated by the
higher northern part that acts
as a water divide. The river
Burhi Gandhak in the south
and west forms the other
catchment boundaries.
• There is a southern 15 km long
irrigation channel constructed
in 1951 to drain the excess
water for agricultural purposes
which connects the lake to the
river Burhi Gandak.

14. Kabar - Budhi Gandak Canal
2004
Pre-monsoon
2014
Post-Monsoon

15. Google Map – Kabar lake

16. Kabar :Pre-monsoon -2013

17. Dying Tourism - Defunct Boats

18. Threats
• Excessive chemicals , like
Furadan used to captures
birds.
• Killings of Birds
• Villager's encroachment
of Lake Area
• Idle lying of fund for
development of area by
Bihar Government

19. Birds of Kabar – Critically Endangered
•
Oriental Whitebacked Vulture
(Gyps bengalensis)
•
Long-billed Vulture
(Gyps indicus)

20. Birds of Kabar – Critically Vulnerable
• Greater Adjutant
(Leptoptilos dubiu)
• Greater Spotted Eagle
(Aquila clanga)
• Lesser Kestrel
(Falco naumanni)
• Sarus Crane
(Grus antigone)

21. Birds of Kabar – Threatened
•
Darter
(Anhinga melanogaster)
•
Painted Stork
(Mycteria leucocephala)
•
Black-bellied Tern
(Sterna acuticauda)

22. Eutrophication
• The water of Kabar Lake is declining at an
alarming rate due to sever eutrophication. The
depth of the lake is declining rapidly due to
infestation of aquatic weeds such as
Phragmatis and Hydrilla.
• The lake is threatened by pollution and
effluents released by the local inhabitants.
The water of the lake is turbid and acidic in
nature. The lake is now categorized as a highly
eutrophic lake.
• As part of its flood control strategy, GoB
constructed a canal in the decade of the fifties
to drain out the excess floodwaters into the
Ganga River during the monsoons. However,
in the succeeding decades, lack of
maintenance has caused the sediment
deposits to choke this outlet

23. Factors for Degradation of Kabar lake
• At present, there is no inflow-outflow
mechanism in the lake.
• Extensive deforestation, overgrazing,
unsustainable agricultural practices,
and over exploitation of biomass for
fuel, fodder and timber purposes have
stripped the land of its natural
vegetation cover resulting in erosion.
• The lake bed is encroached by the rich
farmers who overexploit them.
• This resulted in social conflict between
the Sahnis and the rich farmers.
• Casteism further widened the gap
between the rich and the poor leading
to usurping of the lake ecosystems and
depleting the resources.

24. Factors for Degradation……….conflicts
• Conflict between the
primary stakeholders:
the fishing rights of
Sahnis and the
agricultural practice by
the rich farmers.
• Conflict between
people and
Government regarding
the ownership and the
rights.

25. Attitudes toward Kabar conservation
• Most of the locals were aware of
problems related to Kabar
• The local farmers want the sanctuary
area to be reduced to 1,400 acres/566
Hectare and development of the area
as Krishi-cum-Pakshi Vihar.
• Local Sahnis favored making the old
drainage system operational again so
that their livelihood is restored.
• A high response was obtained in favor
of protecting the birds.
• Some people held negative views
about the wetland and it was viewed
as a breeding ground for mosquitoes
and diseases such as Kala-ajar
(Leishmaniasis).
Mr.Shatrughan Sahni
Fisherman

26. Remedial Measures
• Integrated wetland
management and land use
regulation based on core and
buffer zone concepts involving
active participation of the
stakeholders
• Stringent protection measures;
• Generation of conservation
awareness by public education
and use of advisory services
• Revival of old drainage system
• Water level and flow regulation
• Environmental activism by
scientists and media to sensitize
government agencies.

27. Empty slogans-Who cares ?

28. LET US JOIN hands
to revive Kabar
Thanks