Sustainability Of Natural Resources In Chandel District, Manipur

Abstract

The present paper explores how population change is shaping the use and health of natural resources in Chandel District, Manipur. We assessed ecological sustainability through footprint accounting and water quality tests. Data on population (1951-2011), land and forest cover and shifting-cultivation records were analysed to estimate ecologically productive land per capita (EPLC) and ecological deficit land per capita (EDLC) against a 2 ha global benchmark. Overall land and forest resources show a narrow surplus, but the spread of jhum with shorter fallows has created sizeable ecological deficits. Population rose from 24,049 in 1951 to 144,028 in 2011 and annual growth stayed above the 0.5% sustainability mark, peaking at 6.66% in 2001. Water from eight sources was evaluated using the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index of springs, taps and tube wells scored excellent to good, while wells and hand pumps were poor, and ponds and rivers very poor because of turbidity, nutrient loads and faecal pollution. Results stress the urgency of moderating growth, restoring resources and improving water governance.