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What is a wetland?

Wetlands are interface between Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems .It is an area of land whose soil is Saturated with moisture either permanently or for a long enough season every year to support aquatic plants.

Wetlands are

ecosystems whose formation, processes and characteristics are determined by water.

They have been called the

'nature's kidneys' because they cleanse our environment.

Wetlands are not necessarily "wet" all year round

Facts About Wetlands

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Wetlands are typically low-lying areas

They can be coastal or inland

Floodplains, swamps, marshes, mangroves deltas and lakes are some types of wetlands.

A paddy farm is also a wetland

They can be natural or man-made

Wetlands can contain fresh water, salt water, or brackish (a combination of the two)

Contaminants and sediments are filtered.

Provides critical wildlife habitat

Cleaner water outflow

How wetlands work

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Some important wetlands

in India

Ashtamudi (Wetland)

Bhitarkanika (Mangroves)

Bhoj (Wetland)

Chandertal (Wetland)

Chilika (Lake)

Deepor Beel

East Calcutta (Wetlands)

Harike (Lake)

Hokera (Wetland)

Kanjli

Keoladeo (National Park)

Kolleru (Lake)

Loktak (Lake)

Point Calimere (Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary)

Pong Dam (Lake)

Renuka (Lake)

Ropar

Rudrasagar (Lake)

Sambhar (Lake)

Sasthamkotta (Lake)

Surinsar – Mansar (Lakes)

Tsomoriri

Vembanad-Kol (Wetland)

Wular (Lake)

Upper Ganga River (Narora to Brijghat stretch)

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Importance of wetlands

Many species of birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, and shelter, especially during migration and breeding.

They provide rich habitat for an immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.

•Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. •They Play a significant role in maintaining a high level of biological diversity.

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Uses of wetlands

Think of a wetland as a huge sponge

Wetlands store water when it is in excess and release it to the ground during dry periods

This helps in recharge and discharge of groundwater

They assist in flood control

They reduce the momentum of water as it flows to a river or a stream, thereby reducing soil erosion

They are also important to the nutrient cycle.

water management

Water QualityWater QualityChemical and Physical Chemical and Physical

PropertiesPropertiesHydrologic conditions can be modified Hydrologic conditions can be modified

by:by: Nutrient availabilityNutrient availability Degree of substrate anoxiaDegree of substrate anoxia Soil salinitySoil salinity Sediment propertiesSediment properties pHpH

Water QualityWater QualityBiotic PropertiesBiotic Properties

Vegetation can control water Vegetation can control water conditions through:conditions through: Peat buildingPeat building Sediment trappingSediment trapping Nutrient retentionNutrient retention Water shadingWater shading TranspirationTranspiration

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Uses of wetlands

Wetlands plants and soil store carbon instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Thus they help moderate global climate

Mangroves can protect shorelines from strong winds and can reduce the impact of hurricanes and tsunamis

Plants that grow in wetlands are very effective in filtering out water pollution

Many wetlands remove pollutants from surface runoff and small streams. 

Wetlands help retain sediments and increase soil fertility

environmental

Storm AbatementStorm Abatement

Wetlands act as buffer of storm Wetlands act as buffer of storm surge and wave energysurge and wave energy

Sustain minimal damageSustain minimal damage Shelter inland propertyShelter inland property

“Regional wetlands are integral parts of larger landscapes—drainage basins, estuaries.”1

Erosion ControlErosion Control

Shoreline stabilizationShoreline stabilization Aerial parts of marsh plants dissipate wave Aerial parts of marsh plants dissipate wave

energyenergy Both offshore and longshore transport of sediment Both offshore and longshore transport of sediment

are reducedare reduced Dense stands can create a depositional environmentDense stands can create a depositional environment

Plants form dense root-rhizome mats, adding Plants form dense root-rhizome mats, adding stability to the shore sedimentstability to the shore sediment

Particularly important during winter storms when Particularly important during winter storms when aerial stems provide only limited resistance to the aerial stems provide only limited resistance to the impact of wavesimpact of waves

Erosion ControlErosion Control

Planting marsh grass is a better Planting marsh grass is a better alternative than:alternative than:

BulkheadsBulkheads SeawallsSeawalls Rip rapRip rap

Gulf Intercoastal Waterway

Photo Courtesy of USACE, Galveston District

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Uses of wetlands –

Wetlands provide livelihoods by being a source of (Consumptive use )

They can also be recreation spaces (non-consumptive uses )

•Agricultural produce•Craft materials•timber production •Medicinal plants •Fishing•Hunting

Wetlands provide opportunities for humans to enjoy outdoor activities, such as canoeing, fishing, and bird watching.

economic

Other ValuesOther Values

HistoricalHistorical Archeological finds suggesting the use of wetlands for Archeological finds suggesting the use of wetlands for

a variety of subsistence and commercial usesa variety of subsistence and commercial uses

Scientific/EducationalScientific/Educational Scientific research to further our understanding of the Scientific research to further our understanding of the

ecology, geology, chemistry, etc. of the Earthecology, geology, chemistry, etc. of the Earth Source of community educationSource of community education

CulturalCultural Representation of a community heritageRepresentation of a community heritage

Other Values, cont.Other Values, cont.

Aesthetics– High quality of life

enjoyed by the general public and property owners

Threats to wetlands Natural

Drought

Over grazing by wildlife

Natural disasters like hurricanes and floods

Threats to wetlands Anthropogenic

1.Development

Draining out wetlands for construction

Damming them to form lakes or ponds

Diverting water flow

2.Pollution

4. Global warming

3. Sand and gravel mining

5. Acid rain

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The Convention on Wetlands -- called the "Ramsar Convention" – was signed

in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.

An intergovernmental treaty - embodies the commitments of its member

countries to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands

in their territories.

Ramsar convention

PROTECTING, SUSTAINING, AND PROTECTING, SUSTAINING, AND RESTORING WETLANDSRESTORING WETLANDS

The most notable feature of federal wetland protection policy today is that there is no specific, comprehensive national wetland law

Solutions for protecting Solutions for protecting wetlandswetlands

Legally protect existing wetlands

Steer development away from existing wetlands

Use mitigation banking only as a last resort

Require creation and evaluation of a new wetland before destroying an existing wetland

Restore degraded wetlands

Try to prevent and control invasions by nonnative species

Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Reserve Programs (1985 and 1990 Farm Reserve Programs (1985 and 1990 Farm

Bills)Bills)

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•Two important incentive approaches for protection and restoration of wetlands were parts of the 1985 and 1990 Farm Bills.

•Both the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program pay farmers to take land out of production or set land aside for a designated time period.

Water Bank ActWater Bank Act

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•The Water Bank Program is another federally operated incentive approach geared largely to agricultural wetland protection, similar to the CRP, but initiated long before it, with the 1970 passage of the Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1301).

•Landowners agree not to drain, fill, level, burn, or otherwise destroy wetlands and to maintain ground cover essential for the resting, breeding, or feeding of migratory waterfowl in exchange for annual payments.

PROTECTING AND PROTECTING AND RESTORING WETLANDS in RESTORING WETLANDS in

INDIAINDIAWetlands conservation in India is indirectly influenced by an array of Wetlands conservation in India is indirectly influenced by an array of

policy and legislative measures.policy and legislative measures. Some Of the key legislation is given below :- Some Of the key legislation is given below :-

The Indian Fisheries Act - 1857 The Indian Fisheries Act - 1857

The Indian Forest Act - 1927 The Indian Forest Act - 1927

Wildlife (Protection) Act - 1972 Wildlife (Protection) Act - 1972

Water (Prevention and Control of Pol1ution)Act - 1974 Water (Prevention and Control of Pol1ution)Act - 1974

Territorial Water, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Territorial Water, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other

Marine Zones Act - 1976 Marine Zones Act - 1976

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act - 1977 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act - 1977

Maritime Zone of India.(Regulation and fishing by foreign vessels) Act 1980 Maritime Zone of India.(Regulation and fishing by foreign vessels) Act 1980

Forest (Conservation Act) - 1980 Forest (Conservation Act) - 1980

Environmental (Protection) Act - 1986 Environmental (Protection) Act - 1986

Coastal Zone Regulation Notification - 1991 Coastal Zone Regulation Notification - 1991

Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act - 1991 Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act - 1991

National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and I Development - National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and I Development - 1992 1992

National Policy And Macro level Action Strategy on Biodiversity-1999 National Policy And Macro level Action Strategy on Biodiversity-1999 24

Legal FrameworkLegal Framework As of now there is no specific legal framework for wetland As of now there is no specific legal framework for wetland

conservation, management and their wise use. conservation, management and their wise use. Draft regulatory framework for conservation and management Draft regulatory framework for conservation and management

of wetlands is being finalized to be notified under the of wetlands is being finalized to be notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

National Wetlands Conservation National Wetlands Conservation Programme(NWCP): Programme(NWCP): ObjectivesObjectives to lay down policy guidelines for conservation and to lay down policy guidelines for conservation and

management of wetlands in the countrymanagement of wetlands in the country to provide financial assistance for undertaking intensive to provide financial assistance for undertaking intensive

conservation measures in the identified wetlands;conservation measures in the identified wetlands; to monitor implementation of the programme; andto monitor implementation of the programme; and to prepare an inventory of Indian wetlands.to prepare an inventory of Indian wetlands.

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Role of Central GovernmentRole of Central Government

The Central Government is responsible for overall The Central Government is responsible for overall coordination of wetland conservation programmes coordination of wetland conservation programmes and initiatives at the international and national and initiatives at the international and national levels. levels.

The Central Govt. is responsible for the following:The Central Govt. is responsible for the following: Providing financial assistance for implementation of the Providing financial assistance for implementation of the

approved items of the programme;approved items of the programme; Providing technical expertise and know-how including training of Providing technical expertise and know-how including training of

personnel;personnel; Issue of detailed guidelines covering all aspects of management; Issue of detailed guidelines covering all aspects of management; Evaluation of the interventions made.Evaluation of the interventions made.

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Thank youThank you

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