Community Participation and Bio Rights Possibilities in the Conservation of Urban Wetlands: A Study of Deepor Beel (Lake), Guwahati, India

There is ample evidence to demonstrate that community engagement has become a prerequisite for ensuring development and change. The successful projects are uniquely characterized in terms of priority by the community; clear understanding of responsibilities and competence of the technologies used. Rich biodiversity and surrounding forest landscape of Deepor Beel, a Ramsar wetland in Guwahati city, India is currently facing a crisis for conservation due to rapid urbanization, conflicts and insignificant cooperation from the local communities. This research focuses on conual strategies to integrate community participation in urban wetland management and environmental conservation through bio rights possibilities. A few site specific cases for encouraging the population living in the fringe villages without compromising on their socio-cultural identities and highlight the integration of community participatory system and location specific adjustments for a sustainable development of the proposed eco-park through the analysis of planning and conservation approaches are also been discussed. This will help to articulate socio-cultural values, local knowledge and sense of ownership in planning methods and provide opportunities for tangible and coherent solutions as against conventional urban planning. The results offer supportive and tangible guidelines valuable for an inclusive approach towards the development of the proposed Eco Park aimed at urban wetland conservation and tourism appreciation.