Understanding the Kole lands in Kerala as a multiple use wetland ecosystem
Wetlands which face several anthropogenic and other threats are complex ecosystems providing substantial benefits to human society. This paper is an attempt to understand the ecological and economic importance as well as the associated property rights issues of wetlands in general and the Kole wetlands in Thrissur, Kerala in particular. It also seeks to analyse the wetland agriculture interactions in Kole lands and identify the various livelihood and other activities undertaken with a purpose to identify the various interlinkages and feedbacks between various uses and the pressures facing the ecosystem.