• SATHEESH P

In this study, 10 ecological threats of 20 tanks in the Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District was studied. With a help of a ranking system, the degree of encroachment in each tank was assessed and ordered. Out of 10 threats assessed, Agricultural encroachment was considered as the primary threat and the construction of wind farms were considered as secondary major threat. But it was noticed that the impact of the secondary threat was higher around the area than the primary threat. It was evidenced through the species count of birds and their abundance in the tanks chosen. The hydroperiod of the tanks chosen were also very less due to the remarkable deterioration of catchment area and hydrologic alterations by the construction of tall and long leaved wind farms. So the rural wetlands are at the brim of the deterioration. The strict conservation policies towards the wetlands should extend upto the corner of the rural wetlands so as to save the pathetic wetland conditions prevailing in the rural areas.

Ecological Attributes, Anthropogenic activity, birds diversity, encroachments, deterioration of wetlands, conservation

"ASSESSMENT OF MAJOR ENCROACHMENT ON RURAL WETLANDS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON BIRDS DIVERSITY OF RADHAPURAM TALUK, TIRUNELVELI DISTICT OF TAMILNADU, INDIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no.622-627, December-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812591.pdf

"ASSESSMENT OF MAJOR ENCROACHMENT ON RURAL WETLANDS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON BIRDS DIVERSITY OF RADHAPURAM TALUK, TIRUNELVELI DISTICT OF TAMILNADU, INDIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no. pp622-627, December-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812591.pdf