TRAPA NATANS L. (WATER CHESTNUT) IN HIMALAYAN WETLAND DEORIA TAL, INDIA

The Himalayas are the rich source of tangible and intangible goods and services. The Himalayan lakes and wetlands possess rich and diverse biodiversity. The present study was conducted to find the impacts of Trapa natans (water chestnut) on Himalayan wetland Deoria Tal from April 2014- March 2016 spreading in the epilimnetic zone of the wetland. The beautiful wetland is a tourist spot and is famous for its landscape and panoramic view of the nearby snowy mountain peaks that are reflected in the water, which are the main attraction for the tourists round the year. Water chestnut hinders the picturesque beauty as well as the path of aquatic fauna. Keeping in view the effects of water chestnut on the wetland, few objectives and control measures have been suggested for its eradication so that conservation and management should be done.