Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing habitat for a diverse range of species. They support numerous aquatic and terrestrial organisms, contributing to overall biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.They also help in climate adaptation by buffering extreme weather events like floods and droughts.
Healthy wetlands contribute to human health by improving water quality through natural filtration processes. They also provide resources such as fish and plants, which are vital for food security and livelihoods.
India has implemented several mechanisms to protect wetlands, including the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP), which aims to promote sustainable management practices. India recognizes the importance of wetlands and has enacted laws like the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, to protect and conserve them. In addition, initiatives like the National Wetland Atlas and the National Wetland Inventory are aimed at mapping and monitoring wetlands across the country.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is another key framework that India adheres to, focusing on the conservation and sustainable use of wetland resources. Additionally, various state-level initiatives aim to restore degraded wetlands and enhance community involvement in conservation efforts.
These measures, along with community participation and awareness programs, are crucial for safeguarding India’s valuable wetland resources.
Strategies to Save Wetlands: The Essential Role of Wetlands in Climate and Biodiversity Strategies
Wetlands, also known as the “kidneys of the environment,” are essential to addressing climate challenges, preserving biodiversity and protecting public health. When undisturbed, these ecosystems form a multidimensional carbon vacuum, sucking in vast amounts of carbon dioxide and helping to slow the flow of greenhouse gas emissions. They are also buffers from extreme weather events, like floods and storms, which enhances climate change resilience. Wetlands also support a high diversity of plant and animal species, many endemic to those areas, and many threatened by the destruction of surrounding habitats.
Wetlands offer wide human health services in the form of water purification, groundwater replenishment, and local employability in neighbouring communities. India wherein these wetlands are a significant ecosystem and several steps have been taken in its conservation and sustainable use. reducer. National Wetland Conservation Programme(NWCP) was launched in 1987 to promote conservation and wise use of wetlands. In addition to the promotion of community-led conservation projects, the program emphasizes the identification, monitoring and management of these areas.
As a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, an international agreement dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, India has nominated 49 sites that encompass over 1.3 million hectares of Ramsar sites. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 These Rules provide a legal framework for wetland conservation and management. Secondly, State Wetland Authorities need to be formed for the promotion of conservation activities, so that these ecosystems are neither destroyed nor over-exploited.
In addition, wetland protection has been incorporated into India’s national climate action plans, realizing the important role wetlands will play in fulfilling the objectives of the Paris Agreement. But pollution, encroachment on land and over-exploitation of resources still pose formidable challenges. In order to ensure the long-term health of India’s wetlands, there is an absolute need for increased public awareness, enforcement of laws and greater involvement by the local community.