Change in Structural Components Due to Seasonal Flooding Governs Provisioning Ecosystem Service Delivery and Livelihood Diversification: A Case Study from a Tropical Floodplain Wetland in Barak Valley Region of India

Abstract

Annual flood events lead to periodic changes in structural components within seasonal floodplain wetlands. Such change in structural components may determine the type and quantity of provisioning ecosystem services (ES) that offer resident communities opportunities for diverse livelihood activities. We elucidate this hypothesis using the case study of a seasonal floodplain wetland—Chatla—located in Assam, northeast India, by integrating spatially explicit data of structural components of the wetland with social-ecological information following standard methods. The structural components of Chatla during dry and wet seasons were mapped using LANDSAT 8 satellite data. The provisioning ES was quantified and the corresponding economic value was estimated through household- and market surveys. About 51% of Chatla remained inundated during the wet season, which served as a capture fishery source for the riparian communities. Only 6% of the wetland area retained water during the dry season, supporting culture fishery, while a substantial area was brought under paddy cultivation. Both fishery and paddy cultivation served as the major source of income for riparian households. In addition, various non-timber forest products (NTFPs) harvested from the wetland were used for subsistence during both seasons. The total annual value of provisioning ES in harvesting paddy, fish, NTFPs, and soil extraction was estimated as USD 387,487. Our study confirms that the change in structural components of the wetland driven by the annual flooding ensures the delivery of provisioning ES that facilitates livelihood sustainability. We suggest that national and international policies focus on the conservation and wise use of such seasonal wetlands to ensure a sustainable future for the wetland-dependent population in the tropics.