| Wetlands
: Government Interventions
Conservation
and Management of Wetlands, Mangroves and Coral Reefs : Wetlands
Wetlands
are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic system
where the water table is usually or near the water surface and
land is covered by shallow water. They are life support systems
for people living around and are effective in flood control,
waste water treatment, reducing sediment, recharging of aquifers
and also winter resort for variety of birds for shelter and
breeding and provide a suitable habitat for fish and other flora
and fauna. They also act as buffer against the devastating effect
of hurricanes and cyclones, stabilize the shore-line and act
as bulwark against the encroachment by the sea and check soil
erosion. Apart from that, they are valuable for their educational
and scientific interest and provide durable timber, fuelwood,
protein rich fodder for cattle, edible fruits, vegetables and
traditional medicines.
Identification
of wetlands can be attributed to the following three main factors,
viz. -
When
an area is permanently or periodically inundated
When an area supports hydrophytic vegetation
When an area has hydric soils that are saturated or flooded
for a sufficiently long period to become anaerobic in the upper
layers.
On
these criteria, Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as areas
of marsh or fen, peat-land or water, whether artificial or natural,
permanent or temporary, with the water that is stastic or flowing,
fresh, brackish or salt including areas of marine water, the
depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meter. Mangroves,
corals, estuaries, bays, creeks, flood plains, sea grasses,
lakes etc are covered under this definition. National Bio-diversity
Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)
A
comprehensive project with the financial support of UNDP-GEF
was launched for producing a series of planning documents relating
to ecological security and livelihood of people most dependent
on natural resources. The ultimate aim is to develop a national
plan for conservation of biodiversity and its sustainable use.
A consultative and participatory approach was adopted by all
the executing agencies. A draft National Action Plan (NAP) has
been prepared and circulated to more than 500 experts and organisations
for comments. The comments received were suitably incorporated
and the report revised.
A
meeting of the Steering Committee under the Chairmanship of
Secretary (E&F) was held on January 29, 2004 in which the
submission of the draft NAP report to the Ministry was recommended.
The Ministry, based on this draft NAP, shall seek competent
approval for a possible National Biodiversity Strategy and Action
Plan in line with the National Environment Policy which is under
formulation.
Wetlands
: NGOs Interventions
WPSI
: The Indian Cranes and Wetlands Working Group...
In 2002, the last two Siberian cranes of the central flock failed
to return to India. Their winter home, Keoladeo National Park,
reeled under a drought and there was no water to house the birds.
They were not reported from anywhere else in the country. Two
more winters passed, and the birds still did not show up. It
is now suspected that they are extinct.
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Atree
: WETLAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMME
Team: Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan, Siddhartha Krishnan, M. C.
Kiran, T. D. Jojo, Deepak Dayanandan.
Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth
that also harbor high levels of biodiversity. Unfortunately,
most wetlands are facing grave threats from various human activities.
To understand and act upon such threats, ATREE recently initiated
a community based wetland conservation programme around the
Vembanad wetland in Kerala.
The Vembanad Lake is the largest humid tropical wetland ecosystem
of the south west coast of India. Based on the rich biodiversity
and socio-economic importance, the Vembanad Lake along with
adjacent kol lands was declared a Ramsar site, a wetland of
international importance.
Current
projects
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