Source: welcomeorissa

There is clear There is clear water up to your water up to your ankles and ankles and dragonfly zips dragonfly zips past your head as past your head as you watch some you watch some ducks fly off the ducks fly off the water - welcome water - welcome to the soggy to the soggy world of the world of the wetlandwetland

Source: www.welcomeorissa.com

WETLANDS…………………….WETLANDS…………………….

Lands where water saturation is the Lands where water saturation is the dominant factor determining the nature of dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of plant soil development and the types of plant and animal communities living in the and animal communities living in the surrounding environment. Other common surrounding environment. Other common names for wetlands are bogs, ponds, names for wetlands are bogs, ponds, estuaries, and marshes.estuaries, and marshes.

FOOD WEB IN A WETLANDFOOD WEB IN A WETLAND ECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEM

Source: www.cas.muohio.eduSource: www.cas.muohio.edu

Why are wetlands important ?Why are wetlands important ?

Wetlands prevent flooding by Wetlands prevent flooding by holding water much like a sponge. holding water much like a sponge. By doing so, wetlands help keep By doing so, wetlands help keep river levels normal and filter and river levels normal and filter and purify the surface water. Wetlands purify the surface water. Wetlands accept water during storms and accept water during storms and whenever water levels are high. whenever water levels are high. When water levels are low, wetlands When water levels are low, wetlands slowly release water.slowly release water.

A THREATENED ECOSYSTEMA THREATENED ECOSYSTEM The increased food production of the past fifty years has

led to important losses of wetland ecosystems. Agriculture now uses 70% of all global water withdrawals;

wetlands are drained for cultivation, and threatened by agricultural pollution, through nitrogen, phosphorous, pesticides.

The construction of dams, supporting irrigation development, destroy floodplains, the riparian habitat and species breeding ground.

Another major threat to wetlands comes from new construction and infrastructure development. This threat is likely to increase.

Why do we need to map wetlands?

For the long-term conservation planning of wetlands, spatial data For the long-term conservation planning of wetlands, spatial data and information is required for any intervention. Wetland eco-system and information is required for any intervention. Wetland eco-system constitute an integral part of cultural and biodiversity landscape of constitute an integral part of cultural and biodiversity landscape of India. It is estimated that 3.5 millions ha exists in the country India. It is estimated that 3.5 millions ha exists in the country according to the 1992-1993 study by the according to the 1992-1993 study by the Space Application CentreSpace Application Centre. . However, this information pertains to wetlands above 56ha in size. However, this information pertains to wetlands above 56ha in size. Past research on wetland conservation in the country has shown Past research on wetland conservation in the country has shown conclusively that micro wetlands or satellite wetlands around a conclusively that micro wetlands or satellite wetlands around a bigger wetland act as a constellation of habitat mosaic for resident bigger wetland act as a constellation of habitat mosaic for resident and migratory waterfowl. This is of special importance for inland and migratory waterfowl. This is of special importance for inland wetland habitats in the flyways of migratory birds in the Indo-wetland habitats in the flyways of migratory birds in the Indo-Gangetic plains and in Deccan peninsula. Often, the size of these Gangetic plains and in Deccan peninsula. Often, the size of these micro wetlands is much smaller than 50ha Therefore, there is a micro wetlands is much smaller than 50ha Therefore, there is a great need to map wetlands of size smaller than 50ha. Spatial great need to map wetlands of size smaller than 50ha. Spatial information on wetlands resources is a critical and an urgently information on wetlands resources is a critical and an urgently needed for an effective conservation of these important eco-system. needed for an effective conservation of these important eco-system.

The richness and usefulness of the wetlands The richness and usefulness of the wetlands was first brought to the notice of the world was first brought to the notice of the world by a convention on wetlands held in by a convention on wetlands held in Ramsar, an Iranian city situated on the Ramsar, an Iranian city situated on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in 1971. shores of the Caspian Sea, in 1971.

Front cover of World Wetland Day 2006 postcard

World Wetland Day 2 nd February.

Number of Ramsar sites in India is 25.

WETLAND CLASSIFICATION WETLAND CLASSIFICATION SCHEMESCHEME

INLAND WETLANDSINLAND WETLANDS::

Reservoirs.

Tanks.

Abandoned quarries.

Ash pond/cooling pond.

Natural.

Lakes/Ponds.

Oxbow lakes.

Waterlogged (seasonal).

Swamp/marsh.

Playas.

Man made.

Coastal Wetland:Coastal Wetland:

Natural

Estuary.

Lagoon.

Creek.

Bay.

Tidal flat.

Coral reef.

Mangrove.

Artificial

Salt pan.

Aquaculture.

Area Estimates of Wetlands of India (in million ha)

Area under paddy cultivationArea under paddy cultivation 40.9 40.9 Area suitable for fish culture Area suitable for fish culture 3.6 3.6 Area under capture fisheries.Area under capture fisheries. 2.9 2.9 Mangroves Mangroves 0.4 0.4 Estuaries Estuaries 3.9 3.9 Backwater Backwater 3.5 3.5 Man-made impoundments Man-made impoundments 3.0 3.0

Rivers.Rivers. (28,000 km) (28,000 km) Canals and irrigation channels Canals and irrigation channels (113,000 km) (113,000 km) Types of wetlands.Types of wetlands. 58.2 58.2

(Source: Directory of Asian Wetlands, IUCN, 1995).

Indian Wetlands supporting endangered

fauna.

StateState Endemic Endemic plantsplants

Threatened Threatened fishesfishes

Threatened Threatened turtlesturtles

West BengalWest Bengal 55 3232 1111Tamil NaduTamil Nadu 4646 3535 44KeralaKerala 6565 3737 33KarnatakaKarnataka 6464 1515 22OrissaOrissa 66 2222 66Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh 1313 1919 22GujratGujrat 1111 1212 11RajasthanRajasthan 99 1717 33HaryanaHaryana 00 1515 11

Source: wetlandsofindia.org

Common Common namename

No. of birdsNo. of birds No. of sites No. of sites (n=591)(n=591)

No. of states No. of states (n=25)(n=25)

Baer’s pochardBaer’s pochard 378378 77 44

Baikal tealBaikal teal 3535 11 11

Blacknecked Blacknecked cranecrane

** 55 33

Dalmatian Dalmatian pellicanpellican

1111 2020 44

Finn’s weaverFinn’s weaver 396396 11 11

Bristled grass Bristled grass warblerwarbler

11 22 22

Source:wetlandsofindia.org

Socio-economic characteristics of wetlands.

Community dependence on the Chilika Lake.

Source: www.ias.ac.inSource: www.ias.ac.in

Chilika Lake region has 132 fishing villages with a total population of Chilika Lake region has 132 fishing villages with a total population of more than 10 million.more than 10 million.

About 30% (33,3 00) of the fishing village population are active About 30% (33,3 00) of the fishing village population are active

fishermen, although many others depend indirectly on the fisheries.fishermen, although many others depend indirectly on the fisheries. There is a large forest area both on the coastal side and around the There is a large forest area both on the coastal side and around the

lake which quote successfully is being covered by casuarinas (near the lake which quote successfully is being covered by casuarinas (near the sea shore), eucalyptus and cashew under both a SIDA-supported and sea shore), eucalyptus and cashew under both a SIDA-supported and the government's own social forestry programme. But the tribals and the government's own social forestry programme. But the tribals and the local communities entirely depend upon the forest to meet their the local communities entirely depend upon the forest to meet their

own fuel requirements and they also cut and sell it in the local market.own fuel requirements and they also cut and sell it in the local market. The area around the lake, not covered by human settlement and forest, is The area around the lake, not covered by human settlement and forest, is

under intense farming – mainly cashew in dry land and paddy cultivation in under intense farming – mainly cashew in dry land and paddy cultivation in wetland.wetland.

NATIONAL WETLAND STRATEGY

Should encompass

Protection: The primary necessity today is to protect the existing wetlands. Of the many wetlands in India, only around 68 wetlands are protected. But there are thousands of other wetlands that are biologically and economically important but have no legal status..

Planning, Managing and Monitoring:

Wetlands that come under the Protected Area Network have management plans but others do not. It is important for various stakeholders along with the local community and the corporate sector to come together for an effective management plan. Active monitoring of these wetland systems over a period of time is essential.

Coordinated Approach:

Because Wetlands are common property with multi-purpose utility, their protection and management also need to be a common responsibility. An appropriate forum for resolving the conflict on wetland issues has to be set up. It is important for all the relevant ministries to allocate sufficient funds towards the conservation of these ecosystems

Research: There is a necessity for research in the

formulation of a national strategy to understand the dynamics of these ecosystems. This could be useful for the planners to formulate strategies for the mitigation of pollution. The scientific knowledge will help the planners in understanding the economic values and benefits, which in turn will help in. setting priorities and, focusing the planning process.

Building awareness:

For achieving any sustainable success in the protection of these wetlands, awareness among the general public, educational and corporate institutions must be created. The policy makers at various levels, along with site managers, need to be educated. Because the country's wetlands are shared, the bi-lateral cooperation in the resource management needs to be enhanced.

REFERENCES

The environment by Chris Park.The environment by Chris Park. Ecology and environment by Ecology and environment by

B.P.Pandey.B.P.Pandey. WWF-India newsletter.Issue I -2006.WWF-India newsletter.Issue I -2006. www.wetlandsofindia.orgwww.wetlandsofindia.org www.edugreen.teri.eduwww.edugreen.teri.edu www.ramsar.orgwww.ramsar.org www.chilika.comwww.chilika.com

Presented byPresented by

Ajai Tiwari (Roll 6)Ajai Tiwari (Roll 6)

Santanu Chakraborty (Roll 44Santanu Chakraborty (Roll 44)