LA EXCELLENCE IAS

ENVIRONMENT &
ECOLOGY
WETLANDS
Handout

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 Scope of the Topic: Wetlands

I. Introduction
II. Importance of Wetlands
III. Reasons for Depletion
IV. Mitigation Measures
V. Measures to Protect Wetlands- Ramsar
Convention
a) The Montreaux Record
b) Ramsar Sites in India
c) Wetlands International
d) National Wetlands Conservation Programme
VI. Estuaries
a) Importance of Estuaries
VII. Mangroves
a) Mangroves in India
Introduction:

Wetlands are areas of marsh or peatland with water that is static or flowing,
fresh, brackish or saline.

Marshescan often be found at the edges of lakes and streams, where they form a
transition between the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Any area of ground
that's waterlogged is marshy, like the marshy shore of a river or the low-lying
marshy patch in the neighborhood park. Water-loving plants grow in these areas.

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Peat is a mixture of partially decomposing plant and organic material, accumulated
on a water-saturated land and in the absence of oxygen.
The rate of accumulation of plant material is greatest in the areas where
temperature is high enough for plant growth but low for vigorous microbial activity
which breaks down the organic material. Such areas are generally found in
Northern Hemisphere.
Examples:

Static Wetlands: Marshlands, Peatlands, wet grasslands etc.

Flowing/Running wetlands: River basins, small streams etc.

Wetlands are transition zones or ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic

ecosystems. E.g. Mangroves, floodplains (areas lying adjacent to the river
channels which are periodically flooded during high discharge in the river) and
other marshy or swampy areas.

Waterlogged soil (Hydric Soil), adapted plant life (hydrophytes- Moisture

loving plants) are the chief characteristics of wetlands.

India has totally 27,403 wetlands, of which 23,444 are inland wetlands and
3,959 are coastal wetlands.

Examples:

Inland Wetlands: Marsh, Peat lands, shallow ponds, etc.

Coastal Wetlands: Estuaries, Coastal lagoons, salt marshes(Caused by

tides) etc.

Wetlands occupy 18.4% of the country's area of which 70% are under paddy
cultivation.

Take Home Point:Wetlands can be both natural and manmade. Natural

wetlands are Marshes, Estuaries, Peat lands etc. The best example of
manmade wetlands is paddy fields.

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Natural wetlands in India range from high altitude wetlands in Himalayas
(Ex: Hokesar Wetland in J&K); flood plains of the major river systems;
saline and temporary wetlands of the arid and semi arid regions (Ex: The
Great Rann of Kutch), coastal wetlands such as backwaters, estuaries,
mangroves, etc.

Lakes are generally less important when compared to wetland from the
viewpoint of biodiversity. Wetland support high densities and diverse fauna,
particularly birds, fish and macro invertebrates, and therefore, have high value
for biodiversity conservation.

Take Home Point: Wetlands are more important than lakes or other aquatic
ecosystems from the biodiversity point of view. Wetlands support many rare
and endangered species of birds and are rich in bio-diversity. Wetlands have
more ecological significance compared to water bodies.

Importance of wetlands

Ecological importance of wetlands:

1. Wetlands are very rich in biodiversity.

2. Wetlands are habitat to aquatic flora and fauna, numerous species of
native and migratory birds.

Ecological Services Provided by Wetlands:

3. They carry out water purification, filtration of sediments and nutrients

from surface water.
4. They help in nutrients recycling; ground water recharging and Wetlands
are important carbon sinks.
5. Play an important role in flood mitigation by controlling rate of runoff.
6. They act as riparian buffer and mitigate Eutrophication.

Eutophication refers to the process of enriching the nutrient content of a

water body. Rapid growth of algae known as Algal Blooms is the
consequence of Eutrophication. Read more about Eutrophication in Water
Pollution Chapter.

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 Riparian Buffers are wetlands either occurring naturally or made my
humans close to the water body. They protect the water body from
surface run-off. Riparian buffer acts as a natural filter which absorbs
the contaminants or fertile sediments from the surface run-off and
protects the water body from pollution.

Economic Importance of Wetlands:

7. Wetlands are important tourist destinations.

8. We get many resources from wetlands including fish and
shellfish(Shrimp), several fruits and timber.

Reasons for depletion

• Pollution: Dumping of pollutants such as Industrial effluents,

domestic waste, agricultural runoff etc, are dumped into wetlands
beyond the recycling capacity.
• Habitat destruction and deforestation creates ecological imbalance by
altering the population of wetland species.
Example: Wularlake(J&K) is one of Asia’s largest Wetland, over past
many decades has lost about 40 per cent of its area to pollution, and
farming expansion. Since 1911, the area of Wular Wetland, identified as
one of the 26 Ramsar sites in India, has shrunk from 157 sq km to 86 sq km.

• Encroachment:Conversion of wetlands for agriculture and

encroachment due to rapid urbanization.

Exampe: In Uttar Pradesh, Wetlands inBilAkbarpur, Datawali and

Dadriarea in GautamBudh Nagar are home to several wildlife species
including SarusCrane the State bird of Uttar Pradesh arefacing threat
due to increasing encroachment.

• Unsustainable aqua culture. Ex: Kolleru Lake (Ramsar Site).

Kollerulakeis the largest natural freshwater lake of Andhra Pradesh. The

fish ponds around the area are filled with Kolleru lake water. Effluents from
the aquaculture farms are directly discharged into the lake as a result there is
an increase in mineral and heavy metal concentrations in the waters of the lake
which accumulate in the fish and thus enter the humans.

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Mitigation Measures

• Demarcation of wetlands using latest technology, proper enforcement of

laws and stringent punishments for violators.
• Preventing unsustainable aquaculture and cultivation of shellfish.
• Treating industrial effluents and water from farm lands before
discharging into wetlands.
• Utilizing wetlands on a sustainable basis by giving enough time for
natural regeneration.
• Afforestation, weed control, preventing invasive species is the key to
wetland conservation.
• Preventive measures to stop the introduction of exotic invasive species
like water hyacinth.
• Wildlife conservation, sustainable tourism, eco-tourism and sensitizing
local populace.
• Eutrophication abatement by processing nutrient rich discharge into the
water body.

Measures to Protect Wetlands

Ramsar Convention

• International treaty for “the conservation and sustainable use of

wetlands”. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran. The Convention
was signed on 2nd of February, 1971. So 2nd of February each year is
celebrated as World Wetlands Day. At the center of the Ramsar
philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands. India is a party to Ramsar
Convention.
The Wise Use Concept
At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” concept. The
wise use of wetlands is defined as “the maintenance of their ecological
character, achieved through understanding and creating awareness
about the various ecological services provided by Wetlands, and by
emphasizing on the concept of sustainable development”. Wise use
therefore means the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and
their resources, for the benefit of humankind.

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Need for Such Convention
• Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem
services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply,
biodiversity, flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change
mitigation.64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in the last
century which necessitated the formation of such convention.
The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes
and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands,
peatland, oases, estuaries, deltas, mangroves and all human-made sites
such as fish ponds, rice paddies and reservoirs.
Under the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:
• Work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;
• Designate suitable wetlands to be included in the List of Wetlands of
International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their
effective management;
• Cooperate internationally on trans-boundary wetlands.
The inclusion of a wetland in Ramsar List embodies the government’s
commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological
character is maintained. The country with the highest number of Sites is
the United Kingdom with 170.

The Montreaux Record

The Montreux Record is a register of wetlands included in the List of
Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological
character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result
of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It
is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

The present Ramsar sites of India in Montreaux Record are:

• Keoladeo National park,Rajasthan
• Loktaklake,Manipur
Wetland sites removed from the Montreux record due to the successful
restoration of the site ( due to factors like awareness,minimal
anthropogenic activities which affects the wetland & improved
technology to help in restoration of the wetland etc):
• Chilikalake,Orissa

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Ramsar sites in India:

At present, there are 26 Ramsar Sites in India.

Wetland State and Area in

km²
1 Ashtamudi Kerala • A natural backwater
Wetland 614 in Kollam district.
• River Kallada and Pallichal drains into
it.
• It forms an estuary with Sea at
Neendakara which is a famous fishing
harbour in Kerala.
• National Waterway 3 passes through
it.

2 Bhitarkanika Orissa • The core area of Bhitarkanika Wildlife

Mangroves 650 Sanctuary was declared Bhitarkanika
National Park.
• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
includes Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife
Sanctuary.
• Bhitarkanika Mangroves, a part of
Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary were
designated a Ramsar Wetland of
International Importance in 2002.
• It is famous for its salt water
crocodiles and Olive ridley sea turtle.

3 Bhoj Wetland Madhya • The Bhoj Wetland consists of two

Pradesh lakes located in the city of Bhopal.
32 • The two lakes are the Bhojtal and the
Lower Lake.
• It is a manmade reservoir.
• A total of more than 20,000 birds are
observed annually.

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 • The largest bird of India, the sarus
crane (State Bird of Uttar Pradesh) is
found here.

4 Chandra Taal Himachal

Pradesh
0.49
5 Chilika Lake Orissa • Chilka Lake is a brackish water
lagoon at the mouth of the Daya River
1165 • It is spread over the Puri, Khurda and
Ganjam districts of Odisha state on
the east coast of India.
• It is the largest coastal lagoon in India
and the second largest lagoon in the
world.
• The lagoon hosts
• over 160 species of birds in the peak
migratory season. Birds from as far as
the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral
Sea and other remote parts of Russia,
Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central
and southeast Asia, Ladakh and
Himalayas come here.
• In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated
the first Indian wetland of
international importance under the
Ramsar Convention.
• Nalbana Island is the core area of the
Ramsar designated wetlands of
Chilika Lake.
• Nalbana was notified in 1987 and
declared a bird sanctuary in 1973
under the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship
species of Chilikalake.
• Chilka is home to the only known

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 population of Irrawaddy dolphins in
India.
• It is classified as critically endangered,
in five of the six other places it is
known to live.

6 DeeporBeel Assam

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7 East Calcutta West Bengal • The wetland forms an urban facility
Wetlands for treating the city's waste water
125 • The wetland provides about 150 tons
of fresh vegetables daily, as well as
some 10,500 tons of table fish per
year.

8 Harike Punjab • An important site for breeding,

Wetland wintering and staging birds,
41 supporting over 200,000 Anatidae
(ducks, geese, swans, etc.) during
migration.

9 Hokera Jammu and • Hokera wetland is only 10 km away

Wetland Kashmir from Srinagar.

13.75
10 Kanjli Wetland Punjab

1.83
11 Keoladeo Rajasthan • A complex of ten artificial, seasonal
National Park lagoons, varying in size, situated in a
28.73 densely populated region.
• Placed on the Montreux Record in
1990 due to "water shortage and an
unbalanced grazing regime".
• Additionally, the invasive growth of
the grass Paspalumdistichum has

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 changed the ecological character of
large areas of the site, reducing its
suitability for certain waterbird
species, notably the Siberian crane.

12 Kolleru Lake Andhra • Bird sanctury

Pradesh

901
13 Loktak Lake Manipur • Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater
lake in the north-eastern region.
266 • KeibulLamjao the only floating
national park in the world floats over
it.

14 Nalsarovar Gujarat • A natural freshwater lake (a relict sea)

Bird that is the largest natural wetland in
Sanctuary 123 the Thar Desert Biogeographic
Province and represents a dynamic
[Declared as environment with salinity and depth
Ramsar site in varying depending on rainfall.
2012. Most • Besides a few mammalian species
recent Ramsar including the endangered wild ass and
Site in India] the black buck, its migratory bird
population includes rosy
pelicans, flamingoes, white
storks, brahminy ducks and herons.
Thousands of
migratory waterfowl flock to this
sanctuary just after the Indian
monsoon season.
• The wetland is also a lifeline for a
satellite population of the endangered
Indian Wild Ass
(Equushemionuskhur) which uses

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 this area in the dry season.

15 Point Calimere Tamil Nadu • One of the last remnants of Dry

Wildlife and Evergreen Forests.
Bird 385 • Habitat:Dry Evergreen Forests,
Sanctuary Mangrove & Wetlands.

16 Pong Dam Himachal • A water storage reservoir created in

Lake Pradesh 1975 on the Beas River in the low
foothills of the Himalaya on the
156 northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic
plain.

17 Renuka Lake Himachal • A natural wetland with freshwater fed

Pradesh by a small stream flowing from the
lower Himalayan out to the Giri river.
0.2 • The lake has high religious
significance and is named after the
mother of Hindu sage Parshuram, and
is thus visited by thousands of
pilgrims and tourists.

18 Ropar_Wetland Punjab • A human-made wetland of lake and river

formed by the 1952 construction of a
13.65 barrage for diversion of water from the
Sutlej River for drinking and irrigation
supplies.

19 Rudrasagar Tripura
Lake
2.4
20 Sambhar Lake Rajasthan • The Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest
inland salt lake.
240 • Sambhar has been designated as a
Ramsar site (recognized wetland of

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 international importance) because the
wetland is a key wintering area for tens of
thousands of flamingos and other birds
that migrate from northern Asia.
• The specialized algae and bacteria
growing in the lake provide striking water
colours and support the lake ecology
that, in turn, sustains the migrating
waterfowl. There is other wildlife in the
nearby forests, where Nilgai move freely
along with deer and foxes.

21 Sasthamkotta Kerala • It is the largest freshwater lake in

Lake Kerala, situated inKollam district.
3.73
22 Surinsar- Jammu and
Mansar Lakes Kashmir

3.5
23 Tsomoriri Jammu and • A freshwater to brackish lake lying at
Kashmir 4,595m above sea level.
•
120
24 Upper Ganga Uttar Pradesh • The river provides habitat for IUCN
River (Brijghat Red listed Ganges River Dolphin,
to Narora 266 Gharial, Crocodile, 6 species of
Stretch) turtles, otters, 82 species of fish and
more than hundred species of birds.

25 Vembanad-Kol Kerala • Largest lake of Kerala.

Wetland • Famous tourist locations like
1512 Alappuzha and Kumarakom, known
for house boats falls here.
• River mouths of Pamba-
Achenkovilrivers in Vembanad forms
one of the unique wetland topography

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 of Kerala, the Kuttanad. It is below
sea level and is famous for exotic fish
varieties and Paddy fields that are
below sea level.

26 Wular Lake Jammu and • The largest freshwater lake in India. It

Kashmir is fed by Jhelum River.

189

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Wetlands International:

Wetlands International is a global NGO that works to sustain and restore

wetlands and their resources. It is an independent, not-for-profit
organization, supported by governments and businesses from around the
world. Wetlands International's work ranges from research, advocacy and
engagement with governments, corporate and international policy fora and
conventions.
Take Home Point: Wetlands International is not an inter-governmental
organization. It is a not-for profit non-governmental organization.

National Wetlands Conservation Programme:

NWCP was started in the year 1985-86. Under the programme, 115 wetlands
have been identified by the MoEF which require urgent conservation and
management interventions. Criteria for identification of wetlands of
national importance under NWCP are same as those prescribed under the
Ramsar Convention.

The Central Government is responsible for overall coordination of wetland

conservation programmes. It also provides guidelines, financial & technical
assistance to state govt. The State Governments/UT Administration are
responsible for management of wetlands.

Criteria for Identification of Wetlands under Ramsar

Convention:

• If it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-

natural wetland type.
• if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species; or
threatened ecological communities.
• If it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for
maintaining the biological diversity of a particular region.
• If it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life
cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.
• If it regularly supports 20,000 or more water birds.

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• If it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or
subspecies of water birds.
• If it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies
• If it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery
and/or migration path.
• If it is an important source of food and water resource, increased possibilities
for recreation and eco-tourism, etc.

Estuaries:

An estuary is a place where a river or a stream opens into the sea (mouth
of the river). It is a partially enclosed coastal area of brackish water
(semi-saline) with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it. At the
estuaries, fresh water carrying fertile silt and runoff from the land mixes
with the salty sea water.

Estuaries form a transition zone (ecotone) between river ecosystem and

marine ecosystem. Estuaries are greatly influenced by tidal action. They
are periodically washed by sea water once or twice a day based on the
number of tides. In some narrow estuaries, tidal bores are significant.
Tidal bores cause great damage to the estuarine ecology.

A Tidal Boreoccurs along a coast where a river empties into an ocean or

sea. A tidal bore is a strong tide that pushes up the river, against the flow
of the river.

Importance of Estuaries:

• They are the most productive water bodies in the world because of the
mixing of fresh water and saline water zone where marine organisms of
both the ecosystems meet.
• Also, an estuary has very little wave action, so it provides a calm and
peaceful habitat for many different aquatic organisms.
• Estuaries are most heavily populated areas throughout the world, with
about 60% of the world's population living along estuaries due to the
presence of fertile deltas.
• The vast mangrove forests in an estuary act as barrier to check the wind
speed during cyclones and storm surge.

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 • Estuaries are rich in natural resources including fisheries.
• They are deep and well protected from marine transgressions and hence
they are ideal locations for the construction of ports and harbours.

Example:Mormugao port in Goa.

At the mouth of the Zuaririver, the Mormugo port is crucial component in the
flourishing export industry of the state. It accorded the major port status in
1963. It is the leading iron ore exporting port of India. It is also a major
attraction for tourists coming to the Vasco da gama city.

Mangroves:

• Mangroves represent a littoral (near the edge of water body) forest

ecosystem.
• These are mostly evergreen forests that grow in coasts, estuaries, tidal
creeks, backwaters (coastal waters held back on land), marshes and
lagoons of tropical and subtropical regions.
• Mangroves grow in the locations where abundant silt is brought down by
rivers.
• Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems and the trees may vary in
height from 8 to 20 m. They protect the shoreline from the effect of
cyclones and tsunamis.
• They are breeding and spawning ground for many commercially
important fishes.
• Since mangroves are located between the land and sea they represent the
best example of ecotone.
• Mangroves are salt tolerant trees, also called halophytes, and are
adapted to life in harsh coastal conditions.
• Mangroves occur worldwide in the tropics and subtropics, mainly
between latitudes 25° N and 25° S.
• They require high solar radiation to filter saline water through their
roots. This explains why mangroves are confined to only tropical and
sub-tropical coastal waters.

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 Mangroves in India:

• The mangroves of Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forest in the

world. This mangrove forest is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger and
crocodiles.
• The mangroves of Bhitarkanika (Orissa), which is the second largest in
the Indian sub-continent, are the most species rich mangrove forest in
India.
• Mangroves of Pichavaram and Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu are degraded
mainly due to construction of aquaculture ponds and salt pans.
• In Gujarat (north-west coast) mangroves are found mainly in Gulf of
Kachchh and the Kori creek.
• In size, mangroves range from bushy dwarf mangroves found in Gulf of
Kuchchh, to taller species found in the Sunderbans.
• On the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the small tidal estuaries, and
lagoons support a dense and diverse undisturbed mangrove flora.

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Mangroves in India:

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