By Kalpana Palkiwala
Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water.
They are areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters. It is globally the most widely accepted definition.
However, in the Indian context, paddy fields are not to be viewed as covered by this definition. Government of India has taken various steps for controlling of shrinkage of wetlands, management, and identification of wetlands for conservation under National Wetland Conservation Programme. Financial assistance is also released time to time to various State Governments for conservation and management of such wetlands.
Ecological Significance of Wetlands
An inter-governmental treaty was signed during a convention on Wetlands, in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 which provides the framework for National Action and International Cooperation for the Conservation and wide use of wetlands and their resources. There are presently, 154 Contracting Parties to the Convention, with 1669 wetland sites, totaling 151.07 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar list of Wetlands of International Importance.
Wetlands are:
Life support systems, winter resorts for variety of birds for shelter and feeding, suitable habitats for fish and other flora and fauna, effective in flood control, waste water treatment, reducing sediment loads and recharging of aquifers, valuable for their educational and scientific interest (especially their high diversity or species richness) and Recreational benefits (swimming, diving/tourism).
There are many threats to wetlands. The faunal resources are mostly over-exploited. In rural areas, the wetlands are converted for agriculture and aquaculture. Because of formation of wetlands, habitat shrinks. In urban areas, construction of buildings reduces wetlands.
Tremendous anthropogenic pressure also results in rapid destruction of habitat. Uncontrolled siltation of rivers and wetlands reduces the water holding capacity which reduces the amount of available water during dry period. Discharge of freshwater and industrial effluents into reservoirs, altering the water quality as well as the natural population of several sensitive species, accelerated eutrophication of natural wetlands due to surface run-off and uncontrolled growth of weeds results in consequent decay.
Loss of Wetland Biodiversity
On the basis of information received from ZSI, BSI, Wetland International-South Asia. SACON, WWF-India, Wildlife Division in the Ministry, the biodiversity of wetlands (freshwater species of both Iotic and lentic) has declined marginally during the period, in nature and environment. This includes several species of freshwater fishes and Prawn, e.g. Mahaseer, Chital, Mullets and Hilsa. Giant Fresh water prawn and aquatic avifauna like Saras Crane, etc.
The Report entitled “Inland Water Lands of India-Conservation Priorities” by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History (SACON) presents information about wetlands of the size of 2 hectare and above in 72 districts located in 10 States, wetlands in 33 districts in the studied category are reported to have undergone spatial reduction. 94 wetlands covering 23 States and one UT have been identified under National Wetland Conservation Programme for carrying out conservation activities.
Wetlands in India are distributed in different geographical regions ranging from Himalayas to Deccan plateau. The variability in climatic conditions and changing topography is responsible for significant diversity. They are classified into different types based on their origin, vegetation, nutrient status, thermal characteristics. India has twelve different types of wetlands. They are:
Glaciatic Wetlands (Tso Morari in J&K, Chandertal in H.P),Tactonic Wetlands (Khajjiar in H.P and Nainital &Bhimtal in Uttaranchal),Oxbow Wetlands (Dal, Wullar in J&K and Loktak lake in Manipur and some of the wetlands in the river plains of Brahmaputra and Indo- Gangetic region. Deepar Beel in Assam, Kabar in Bihar and Surahtal in U.P.), Lagoons (Chilika in Orissa), Crater wetlands (Lonar lake in Maharashtra), Salt water Wetlands (Pangong Tso in J&K and Sambhar in Rajasthan), Urban Wetlands (Dal lake in J&K, Nainital in Uttaranchal & Bhoj in Madhya Pradesh), Ponds/Tanks: Man-made Wetlands (Harike in Punjab and Pong Dam, Himachal Pradesh), Reservoirs (Idukkj, Hirakud Dam, Bhakra-Nangal, Govind-Sagar), Mangrove (Bhitarkanika, Orissa), Coral reefs (Lakshadweep), Creeks (Thane Creek, Maharashtra) and sea grasses, estuaries, thermal springs are some of the other kinds of wetlands in the country.
National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP)
The country had only 94 wetland areas till 1987. 24 States have been covered under NWCP, for conservation purpose Rs.6.8 crores were spent in the Eighth Plan and Rs.30 crores in Ninth Plan. In the Eleventh Plan, this amount has been increased seven times.
Courtesy: Press Information Bureau
