CONCLUSION

The socio economic survey and water quality analysis shows a decline of ecosystem goods and services with the decline of water quality. This has influenced the livelihood of the local population who are dependent on the goods and services provided by the wetland. The persistent hyper eutrophic condition is due to the sewage from Bellandur lake and also from the surrounding residential apartments. . Water treatment plant for Varthur wetland benefits the local environment with better water and impassive sludge that can be utilized for agricultural fields as fertilizer instead of commercial inorganic fertilizers. With the improved water quality, introduction of indigenous and herbivorous fish species into water body along with the removal of African catfish will enhance the food availability. To retain existing reserve and bring back the lost resource, efforts such as restoration process should include waste water treatment system, removal of over growth of invasive macrophytes and awareness among community and enhanced co-operation among government agencies to manage wetland. Management priorities should mainly include evolving sustainable managing strategies for maintaining water quality, control of invasive species, encroachment, drastic land cover changes in the catchment and identification of buffer zone, providing aquatic resources with adequate water quality and limiting the spread of exotic biota in a sustainable manner evolving managing strategies.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We thank the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India and Indian Institute of Science for the infrastructure and financial support. We are grateful to the students of K K High School, Varthur for taking active role in the environment education programme.