What Are Wetlands?
- Wetlands are areas of land that are saturated with water either permanently or seasonally.
- Wetland areas include both fresh water and marine and coastal ecosystems, they support various plant and animal species and render quite a few benefits to humans.
Types of Wetlands
- Coastal Wetlands
- Occur between land and the open sea, excluded from influences like rivers.
- Incorporate shorelines, beaches, mangroves, and coral reefs.
- For example, mangrove swamps in sheltered tropical coastal environments.
- Shallow Lakes and Ponds
- Areas of permanent or semi-permanent water with little flow.
- Include vernal ponds, spring pools, salt lakes, and volcanic crater lakes.
- Marshes
- Soaked, flooded, or pooled by water periodically.
- Dominated by herbaceous (non woody) vegetation.
- Types
- Tidal Marshes – Affected by ocean tides.
- Non Tidal Marshes – Occupy inland areas.
- Swamps
- Grounded surfaces water inputs; a forest of trees and shrubs covers them.
- Freshwater floodplains or saltwater floodplains.
- Bogs
- Waterlogged peatlands in old lake basins or depressions in the landscape.
- Water here is derived mainly from rain.
- Estuaries
- The mixing point of rivers and the ocean, thus fresh and salt waters mixed.
- Deltas, tidal mudflats, and salt marshes are included.
- It is rich in nutrients and hence possesses immense biodiversity.
Benefits of Wetlands
- Water Quality: They function as natural filters, improving water quality.
- Flood Control: They reduce flooding and erosion.
- Wildlife Habitat: They are home to diverse animals, including fish, birds, and mammals.
- Combating Climate Change: They sequester carbon and thus help in curbing greenhouse gases.
- Tourism & Education: They serve as a facility for tourism, research, and environmental education.
Threats to Wetlands
- Loss of Natural Water Filtration
- Results in bigger bucks for the cities on water treatment.
- Increased Flood Risks
- Wetlands siphon off the water, and it’s their absence that makes the floods more extreme.
- Climate Change Threats
- Rising sea levels and storm surges are especially detrimental to wetland ecosystems.
- Global Decline
- 50% of wetlands lost since 1900.
- 35% loss of wetland surface area (1970 2015).
- 81% decline of inland wetland species and 36% of coastal/marine species.
- Major Causes
- Urbanization & Industrialization
- Conversions of land use to facilitate agriculture & infrastructures
High Court Intervention in Meghalaya
- Suo Motu PIL
- Meghalaya High Court to take initiative in monitoring wetland conservation.
- Focus on Wetlands
- Attention is drawn back to the importance of wetland ecosystems.
Much of the World is Wetlands
- World Wetlands Day: Observed annually on February 2 since 1971, when the Ramsar Convention was opened for signature.
- Global Coverage: Wetlands cover 12.1 million km² (~6% of Earth’s surface).
- Ecosystem Services: Contributes among the total 40.6% of global ecosystem services to water filtration, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and many others.
Conservation Efforts
- Ramsar COP14 (2022)
- Integrated wetland conservation into Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Global Biodiversity Targets and Climate Change frameworks.
- Stress the requirement for wetland protection beyond stand alone initiatives.
Wetlands in India
- Ramsar Sites
- 75 designated wetlands (~1.33 million ha, 8% of India total wetland area).
- National Wetland Trends
- 66.6% natural wetlands (43.9% inland, 22.7% coastal).
- Loss of wetlands in urban regions
- Mumbai: 71% loss (1970 2014).
- Kolkata East: 36% loss (1991 2021).
- Chennai: 85% lost.
- Total natural wetland loss in last four decades: 30%.
Economic & Environmental Impact
- Ecosystem Services Lost
- Cali, Colombia: $76,827/ha per year in urban areas and $30,354/ha in peri urban areas.
- Climate Change Role
- Wetlands are sinks and sources of carbon, requiring very good monitoring.
Way Forward
- Beyond Ecological Focus: Managing wetlands requires physical, social and economic considerations.
- Ecosystem Based Approach: Aligns wetland conservation in planning for development.
- Strengthening Governance: Integration of wetland protection is into climate policies, urban planning, and sustainable water management.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims
Q. If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply? (2014)
(a) Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference.
(b) The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any human activity within five kilometers from the edge of the wetland.
(c) The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed.
(d) It is given the status of ‘World Heritage Site.’
Ans: (a)
Mains
Q. What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India. (2018)
