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What is a wetland?
Wetlands are Wetlands are interface between
ecosystems
whose formation, processes and characteristics are determined by water.
Wetlands are not necessarily "wet" all year round They have been called the
'nature's kidneys'
because they cleanse our environment.
Wetlands are typically low-lying areas They can be natural or man-made They can be coastal or inland
Floodplains, swamps, marshes, mangroves deltas and lakes are some types of wetlands. A paddy farm is also a wetland
Wetlands can contain fresh water, salt water, or brackish (a combination of the two)
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Bhoj (Wetland)
Chandertal (Wetland) Chilika (Lake) Deepor Beel East Calcutta (Wetlands) Harike (Lake) Hokera (Wetland) Kanjli Keoladeo (National Park) Kolleru (Lake) Loktak (Lake) Point Calimere (Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary) Pong Dam (Lake) Renuka (Lake) Ropar Rudrasagar (Lake) Sambhar (Lake) Sasthamkotta (Lake) Surinsar Mansar (Lakes) Tsomoriri Vembanad-Kol (Wetland) Wular (Lake) Upper Ganga River (Narora to Brijghat stretch) 5
Importance of wetlands
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. They Play a significant role in maintaining a high level of biological diversity. They provide rich habitat for an immense variety of species of microbes,
Many species of birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, and shelter, especially
Uses of wetlands
water management
Wetlands store water when it is in excess and release it to the ground during dry periods
They reduce the momentum of water as it flows to a river or a stream, thereby reducing soil erosion
Uses of wetlands
Wetlands plants and soil store carbon instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Thus they help moderate global climate
environmental
Plants that grow in wetlands are very effective in filtering out water pollution Many wetlands remove pollutants from surface runoff and small streams.
Mangroves can protect shorelines from strong winds and can reduce the impact of hurricanes and tsunamis
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Storm Abatement
Wetlands act as buffer of storm surge and wave energy Sustain minimal damage Shelter inland property
Erosion Control
Shoreline stabilization
Plants form dense root-rhizome mats, adding stability to the shore sediment
Particularly important during winter storms when aerial stems provide only limited resistance
Erosion Control
Planting marsh grass is a better alternative than:
Uses of wetlands
economic
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Other Values
Historical
Archeological finds suggesting the use of wetlands for a variety of subsistence and commercial uses
Scientific/Educational
Scientific research to further our understanding of the ecology, geology, chemistry, etc. of the Earth Source of community education
Cultural
Aesthetics
High quality of life enjoyed by the general public and property owners
Threats to wetlands
Natural
Natural disasters like hurricanes and floods
Drought
Threats to wetlands
1.Development
Draining out wetlands for construction
Anthropogenic
4. Global warming
5. Acid rain
Ramsar convention
The Convention on Wetlands -- called the "Ramsar Convention" was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
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The most notable feature of federal wetland protection policy today is that there is no specific, comprehensive national wetland law
Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Reserve Programs (1985 and 1990 Farm Bills)
Two important incentive approaches for protection and restoration of wetlands were parts of the 1985 and 1990 Farm Bills. Both the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program pay farmers to take land out of production or set land aside for a designated time period.
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The Indian Fisheries Act - 1857 The Indian Forest Act - 1927 Wildlife (Protection) Act - 1972 Water (Prevention and Control of Pol1ution)Act - 1974 Territorial Water, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Marine Zones Act - 1976 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act - 1977 Maritime Zone of India.(Regulation and fishing by foreign vessels) Act 1980 Forest (Conservation Act) - 1980 Environmental (Protection) Act - 1986 Coastal Zone Regulation Notification - 1991
Legal Framework
As of now there is no specific legal framework for wetland conservation, management and their wise use. Draft regulatory framework for conservation and management of wetlands is being finalized to be notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
to lay down policy guidelines for conservation and management of wetlands in the country to provide financial assistance for undertaking intensive conservation measures in the identified wetlands; to monitor implementation of the programme; and to prepare an inventory of Indian wetlands.
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The Central Government is responsible for overall coordination of wetland conservation programmes and initiatives at the international and national levels. The Central Govt. is responsible for the following:
Providing financial assistance for implementation of the approved items of the programme; Providing technical expertise and know-how including training of personnel; Issue of detailed guidelines covering all aspects of management; Evaluation of the interventions made.
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Thank you
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