WETLANDS

What is a Wetland ???

• Wetlands are the ecotones (transitional zones) between
permanently aquatic and dry terrestrial ecosystems.
• Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or
ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to
support vegetation typically adapted for life in
saturated soil conditions.
• Biological Supermarkets (high productivity).
• An area is permanently or periodically inundated.
• An area supports hydrophytes vegetation.
• An area has hydric soils that are saturated or
flooded for a sufficiently long period to support
anaerobic respiration in the upper layers.
• According to Ramsar Convention “areas of marsh,
fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial
, permanent or temporary, with water that is static
or flowing , fresh or brackish , including areas of
marine water the depth of which does not exceed
6mtrs at low tide” is called a Wetland.
 Ramsar Convention
• The Convention on Wetlands, also called Ramsar
Convention was signed in Ramsar, Iran on 2nd
February, 1971.
• It is an intergovernmental treaty which provides
the framework for national action and
international cooperation for the conservation
and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• India has 41 wetlands of international
importance.
 WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL
IMPORTANCE IN INDIA
S.No Name State Area(km2)
1. Ashtamudi Wetland, Kerala 614
2. Bhitarkanika mangroves, Orissa 650

3. Bhoj Wetland, Madhya Pradesh 32

4. Chandertal Wetland, Himachal Pradesh 0.49

5. Chilika Lake, Orissa 1165

6. Deepor Beel, Assam 40
7. East Calcutta Wetlands, West Bengal 125

8. Harike Lake, Punjab 41

 FUNCTIONS
OF WETLANDS

Regulating Provisioning
Functions Functions
 PROVISIONING FUNCTIONS

• Water supply - domestic & animals

• Agriculture resources
• Fisheries
• Medicinal plants
• Wildlife Habitat and protection
• Recreational and educational opportunities
 REGULATING SERVICES
• Water storage
• Groundwater recharge
• Flood control
• Water purification
• nutrient retention
• Shoreline stabilization and erosion control
• Climate regulation
 Threats To Wetlands
Developmental threats:
• Draining of wetlands for commercial development, including
tourism facilities, or agricultural land.
• Over-exploitation of freshwater.
• Over extraction from underground aquifer.
• Hundreds of thousands of hectares of wetlands have been
drained for agriculture. Globally, agriculture accounts for 65%
of the total water withdrawal on Earth. Agriculture and other
industries such as paper making are often very wasteful and
inefficient with water.
Pollution:
• Pollution in wetlands is a growing concern, affecting drinking
water sources  and biological diversity.
• Drainage and run-off from fertilized crops and pesticides used
in industry introduce nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients and
other toxins like mercury to water sources. These chemicals
can affect the health and reproduction of species, posing a
serious threat to biological diversity.
Climate Change:
• Increase in temperature are causing polar ice to melt and sea
levels to rise.
• This in turn is leading to shallow wetlands being swamped and
some species of mangrove trees being submerged and
drowned.
Dams:
Worldwide there are more than 40,000 dams which alter the
natural flow of water and impact on existing ecosystems.
 2nd February is celebrated as “World
Wetlands Day”

“UPSTREAM-DOWNSTREAM Wetlands
connects us all’’