A Study on the Bioresources of the Loktak Lake, Manipur (India) for Livelihood by the People Living in Five Villages Located in and Around the Lake

Abstract

In this paper different bioresources of the Loktak lake linked to the livelihood of the communities residing in the periphery of the lake is investigated using questionnaire survey and purposive sampling technique in 300 households from five selected villages. Identification of species and data analysis was taken up using appropriate methodologies. In all 38 type of fishes, 1 type of prawn, 2 type of mollusca, 1 type of mussel, 16 type of vegetables, 8 type of fodders, 6 type of fuelwoods, 3 type of thatch grasses, 12 type of plants with medicinal properties and 2 type of handicraft items were found used by the villagers from Loktak lake for consumption and household earning. People of the survey villages were found to be poor and depended on the lake’s resources for consumption and household financial earning. In some of these villages certain bioresources has been responded to be lost. The resources of the lake have been found degrading because of several anthropogenic activities. Suitable policies and conservation measures involving the villagers needed to be adopted urgently by the concerned authorities for the protection and long term management of the lake and its bioresources.