Wetlands:
• Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life. They occur where the water table is at or near the surface of the land, or where the land is covered by water.
• Wetlands are defined as: "lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water".
Importance of Wetlands :-
• Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.
• Wetlands are habitat to aquatic flora and fauna, numerous species of native and migratory birds.
• Wetlands are an important resource for sustainable tourism.
• They carry out water purification, filtration of sediments and nutrients from surface water.
• They help in nutrients recycling, groundwater recharging and stabilisation of local climate.
• Play an important role in flood mitigation by controlling the rate of runoff.
• Buffer (act as a riparian buffer) shorelines against erosion and pollutants.
• They act as a genetic reservoir for various species of plants (especially rice).
Threats to Wetlands :-
• Urbanization:
Wetlands near urban centres are under increasing developmental pressure for residential, industrial and commercial facilities. Urban wetlands are essential for preserving public water supplies.
• Agriculture:
Vast stretches of wetlands have been converted to paddy fields. Construction of a large number of reservoirs, canals and dams to provide for irrigation significantly altered the hydrology of the associated wetlands.
• Pollution:
Wetlands act as natural water filters. However, they can only clean up the fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural runoff but not mercury from industrial sources and other types of pollution.
• There is growing concern about the effect of industrial pollution on drinking water supplies and the biological diversity of wetlands.
• Climate Change:
Increased air temperature; shifts in precipitation; increased frequency of storms, droughts, and floods; increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration; and sea level rise could also affect wetlands
Measures to Protect Wetlands :-
1.Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
2. Montreux record
3. Wetlands International
4. National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP)
Way Forward:-
• Demarcation of wetlands using the latest technology, proper enforcement of laws and stringent punishments for violators.
• Preventing unsustainable aquaculture and cultivation of shellfish.
• Treating industrial effluents and water from farmlands before discharging into wetlands.
• Utilizing wetlands on a sustainable basis by giving enough time for natural regeneration.
• Artificial regeneration for a quick recovery.
• 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.
• Soil conservation measures & afforestation.
• Preventing grazing in peripherals of wetlands.
• Wildlife conservation, sustainable tourism, eco-tourism and sensitizing local populace.
• Eutrophication abatement by processing nutrient rich discharge into the water body.
• Involving the local population in the conservation of wetlands.
#Prelims
#Mains
Join 👉@Achieve_UPSC
JOIN OUR TELEGRAM GROUP
POLITY QUIZ Click Here
