WETLANDS &WETLAND PLANTS OF INDIA-AN OVERVIEW

Subhajit Bandyopadhyay, K.N.College,Berhampore,Mursidabad ABSTRACT

The term" Wetland" represents low-lying water logged areas on earth surface either inland or coastal with characteristic hydrophytic vegetation. Wetland ecosystem is most significant for excellent biological productivity, climatic and hydrological stability, improvement of water quality, recharge and discharge of ground water, flood control etc. which are economically and commercially important for sustainable development and life support. About 18.4% of India's total land mass is occupied by wetlands which are more than 7 million hectares(both natural and man-made).There are 25 water bodies in India which have been declared as Ramsar site, covering an area of 67,131 hectares among them Chilka lake in Orissa is the largest one having 1165sq km area. There are different views regarding the definition of wetland plants. In general wetland plants are those species which normally stand in water and must grow for at least a part of their life cycle in water either completely submerged or immersed. According to the opinion of Cook (1996) wetland plants are those which grow in places where inundation must occur at least fourteen days and saturation for at least sixty consecutive days. The wetland plant diversity in India is unique due to its various kinds of wetland habitats and climatic condition with a considerable number of endemic species. It has been estimated that wetland vascular plants in India is represented by---- species under ---genera belonging to ------families, of which ------species belonging to ------genera and -----families are in Pteridophycotina and rest of them are in Spermatophycotina. The dominant family in indian wetland is Cyperaceae(--sp) followed by Poaceae(-sp ) and Scrophulariaceae(---sp). Mangroves which grow at or near coastal areas are recorded from 10 different states and union territory of India covering an area of 4474 sq km and are represented by------species under -----families and------genera. West Bengal is the richest state in India in terms of wetlands floral diversity and is represented by 380 species belonging to 170 genera and 83 families.

Now a days the wetland habitat as well as the wetland plants are in crisis due to environmental changes, increase in population, urbanization and industrialization. About 6 species of vascular plants are possibly extinct from Indian wetlands and about 100 species are in threat. To combat the threats to wetland and wetland species conservation and sustainable uses of wetlands are very essential. A model has been presented here regarding the biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of wetlands. Moreover generation of awareness about values and role of wetlands among the general people is very essential to protect the wetlands in our country.