ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY WETLANDS

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ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY WETLANDS Handout # 1-10-233/F, Ashok Nagar Extension, OPP. ICICI Direct, Ashok Nagar X Roads, Hyderabad - 500 020. T.S. Phone No: 9052 29 29 29 / 9052 49 29 29 Website: www.laex.in Website for Current Affairs: www.laex.in/civilsprep For Online Courses: www.laex.in/testprep Youtube Channel: La Excellence IAS Coaching Institute Telegram Channel: Civils Prep@La Excellence

Transcript of ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY WETLANDS

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ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

WETLANDS Handout

# 1-10-233/F, Ashok Nagar Extension, OPP. ICICI Direct, Ashok Nagar X Roads, Hyderabad - 500 020. T.S.

Phone No: 9052 29 29 29 / 9052 49 29 29 Website: www.laex.in

Website for Current Affairs: www.laex.in/civilsprep For Online Courses: www.laex.in/testprep

Youtube Channel: La Excellence IAS Coaching Institute Telegram Channel: Civils Prep@La Excellence

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Scope of the Topic: Wetlands

I. Introduction II. Importance of Wetlands

III. Reasons for Depletion IV. Mitigation Measures V. Measures to Protect Wetlands- Ramsar

Convention a) The Montreaux Record b) Ramsar Sites in India c) Wetlands International d) National Wetlands Conservation Programme

VI. Estuaries a) Importance of Estuaries

VII. Mangroves a) Mangroves in India

Introduction:

Wetlands are areas of marsh or peatland with water that is static or flowing,

fresh, brackish or saline.

Marshescan often be found at the edges of lakes and streams, where they form a

transition between the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Any area of ground

that's waterlogged is marshy, like the marshy shore of a river or the low-lying

marshy patch in the neighborhood park. Water-loving plants grow in these areas.

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Examples:

Static Wetlands: Marshlands, Peatlands, wet grasslands etc.

Flowing/Running wetlands: River basins, small streams etc.

Wetlands are transition zones or ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic

ecosystems. E.g. Mangroves, floodplains (areas lying adjacent to the river

channels which are periodically flooded during high discharge in the river) and

other marshy or swampy areas.

Waterlogged soil (Hydric Soil), adapted plant life (hydrophytes- Moisture

loving plants) are the chief characteristics of wetlands.

India has totally 27,403 wetlands, of which 23,444 are inland wetlands and

3,959 are coastal wetlands.

Examples:

Inland Wetlands: Marsh, Peat lands, shallow ponds, etc.

Coastal Wetlands: Estuaries, Coastal lagoons, salt marshes(Caused by

tides) etc.

Wetlands occupy 18.4% of the country's area of which 70% are under paddy

cultivation.

Peat is a mixture of partially decomposing plant and organic material, accumulated on a water-saturated land and in the absence of oxygen. The rate of accumulation of plant material is greatest in the areas where temperature is high enough for plant growth but low for vigorous microbial activity which breaks down the organic material. Such areas are generally found in Northern Hemisphere.

Take Home Point:Wetlands can be both natural and manmade. Natural

wetlands are Marshes, Estuaries, Peat lands etc. The best example of

manmade wetlands is paddy fields.

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Natural wetlands in India range from high altitude wetlands in Himalayas

(Ex: Hokesar Wetland in J&K); flood plains of the major river systems;

saline and temporary wetlands of the arid and semi arid regions (Ex: The

Great Rann of Kutch), coastal wetlands such as backwaters, estuaries,

mangroves, etc.

Lakes are generally less important when compared to wetland from the

viewpoint of biodiversity. Wetland support high densities and diverse fauna,

particularly birds, fish and macro invertebrates, and therefore, have high value

for biodiversity conservation.

Importance of wetlands

Ecological importance of wetlands:

1. Wetlands are very rich in biodiversity.

2. Wetlands are habitat to aquatic flora and fauna, numerous species of

native and migratory birds.

Ecological Services Provided by Wetlands:

3. They carry out water purification, filtration of sediments and nutrients from surface water.

4. They help in nutrients recycling; ground water recharging and Wetlands are important carbon sinks.

5. Play an important role in flood mitigation by controlling rate of runoff. 6. They act as riparian buffer and mitigate Eutrophication.

Take Home Point: Wetlands are more important than lakes or other aquatic ecosystems from the biodiversity point of view. Wetlands support many rare and endangered species of birds and are rich in bio-diversity. Wetlands have more ecological significance compared to water bodies.

Eutophication refers to the process of enriching the nutrient content of a water body. Rapid growth of algae known as Algal Blooms is the consequence of Eutrophication. Read more about Eutrophication in Water Pollution Chapter.

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Economic Importance of Wetlands:

7. Wetlands are important tourist destinations.

8. We get many resources from wetlands including fish and

shellfish(Shrimp), several fruits and timber.

Reasons for depletion

• Pollution: Dumping of pollutants such as Industrial effluents, domestic waste, agricultural runoff etc, are dumped into wetlands beyond the recycling capacity.

• Habitat destruction and deforestation creates ecological imbalance by altering the population of wetland species.

• Encroachment:Conversion of wetlands for agriculture and encroachment due to rapid urbanization.

• Unsustainable aqua culture. Ex: Kolleru Lake (Ramsar Site).

Example: Wularlake(J&K) is one of Asia’s largest Wetland, over past many decades has lost about 40 per cent of its area to pollution, and farming expansion. Since 1911, the area of Wular Wetland, identified as one of the 26 Ramsar sites in India, has shrunk from 157 sq km to 86 sq km.

Exampe: In Uttar Pradesh, Wetlands inBilAkbarpur, Datawali and Dadriarea in GautamBudh Nagar are home to several wildlife species including SarusCrane the State bird of Uttar Pradesh arefacing threat due to increasing encroachment.

Riparian Buffers are wetlands either occurring naturally or made my humans close to the water body. They protect the water body from surface run-off. Riparian buffer acts as a natural filter which absorbs the contaminants or fertile sediments from the surface run-off and protects the water body from pollution.

Kollerulakeis the largest natural freshwater lake of Andhra Pradesh. The fish ponds around the area are filled with Kolleru lake water. Effluents from the aquaculture farms are directly discharged into the lake as a result there is an increase in mineral and heavy metal concentrations in the waters of the lake which accumulate in the fish and thus enter the humans.

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Mitigation Measures

• Demarcation of wetlands using latest technology, proper enforcement of laws and stringent punishments for violators.

• Preventing unsustainable aquaculture and cultivation of shellfish. • Treating industrial effluents and water from farm lands before

discharging into wetlands. • Utilizing wetlands on a sustainable basis by giving enough time for

natural regeneration. • 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. • Wildlife conservation, sustainable tourism, eco-tourism and sensitizing

local populace. • Eutrophication abatement by processing nutrient rich discharge into the

water body.

Measures to Protect Wetlands

Ramsar Convention

• International treaty for “the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands”. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran. The Convention was signed on 2nd of February, 1971. So 2nd of February each year is celebrated as World Wetlands Day. At the center of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands. India is a party to Ramsar Convention.

The Wise Use Concept At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” concept. The wise use of wetlands is defined as “the maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through understanding and creating awareness about the various ecological services provided by Wetlands, and by emphasizing on the concept of sustainable development”. Wise use therefore means the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources, for the benefit of humankind.

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Need for Such Convention

• Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, biodiversity, flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in the last century which necessitated the formation of such convention.

The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatland, oases, estuaries, deltas, mangroves and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies and reservoirs.

Under the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:

• Work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;

• Designate suitable wetlands to be included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;

• Cooperate internationally on trans-boundary wetlands.

The inclusion of a wetland in Ramsar List embodies the government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained. The country with the highest number of Sites is the United Kingdom with 170.

The Montreaux Record The Montreux Record is a register of wetlands included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

The present Ramsar sites of India in Montreaux Record are: • Keoladeo National park,Rajasthan • Loktaklake,Manipur

Wetland sites removed from the Montreux record due to the successful restoration of the site ( due to factors like awareness,minimal anthropogenic activities which affects the wetland & improved technology to help in restoration of the wetland etc): • Chilikalake,Orissa

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Ramsar sites in India:

At present, there are 26 Ramsar Sites in India.

Wetland State and Area in

km²

1 Ashtamudi Wetland

Kerala 614

• A natural backwater in Kollam district.

• River Kallada and Pallichal drains into it.

• It forms an estuary with Sea at Neendakara which is a famous fishing harbour in Kerala.

• National Waterway 3 passes through it.

2 Bhitarkanika Mangroves

Orissa 650

• The core area of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary was declared Bhitarkanika National Park.

• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary includes Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Bhitarkanika Mangroves, a part of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary were designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2002.

• It is famous for its salt water crocodiles and Olive ridley sea turtle.

3 Bhoj Wetland Madhya Pradesh 32

• The Bhoj Wetland consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal.

• The two lakes are the Bhojtal and the Lower Lake.

• It is a manmade reservoir. • A total of more than 20,000 birds are

observed annually.

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• The largest bird of India, the sarus crane (State Bird of Uttar Pradesh) is found here.

4 Chandra Taal Himachal Pradesh 0.49

5 Chilika Lake Orissa

1165

• Chilka Lake is a brackish water lagoon at the mouth of the Daya River

• It is spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state on the east coast of India.

• It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest lagoon in the world.

• The lagoon hosts • over 160 species of birds in the peak

migratory season. Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here.

• In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

• Nalbana Island is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of Chilika Lake.

• Nalbana was notified in 1987 and declared a bird sanctuary in 1973 under the Wildlife Protection Act.

• The Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship species of Chilikalake.

• Chilka is home to the only known

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population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India.

• It is classified as critically endangered, in five of the six other places it is known to live.

6 DeeporBeel Assam

40

7 East Calcutta Wetlands

West Bengal

125

• The wetland forms an urban facility for treating the city's waste water

• The wetland provides about 150 tons of fresh vegetables daily, as well as some 10,500 tons of table fish per year.

8 Harike Wetland

Punjab

41

• An important site for breeding, wintering and staging birds, supporting over 200,000 Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans, etc.) during migration.

9 Hokera Wetland

Jammu and Kashmir

13.75

• Hokera wetland is only 10 km away from Srinagar.

10 Kanjli Wetland Punjab

1.83

11 Keoladeo National Park

Rajasthan

28.73

• A complex of ten artificial, seasonal lagoons, varying in size, situated in a densely populated region.

• Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to "water shortage and an unbalanced grazing regime".

• Additionally, the invasive growth of the grass Paspalumdistichum has

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changed the ecological character of large areas of the site, reducing its suitability for certain waterbird species, notably the Siberian crane.

12 Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh

901

• Bird sanctury

13 Loktak Lake Manipur

266

• Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern region.

• KeibulLamjao the only floating national park in the world floats over it.

14 Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

[Declared as Ramsar site in 2012. Most recent Ramsar Site in India]

Gujarat

123

• A natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) that is the largest natural wetland in the Thar Desert Biogeographic Province and represents a dynamic environment with salinity and depth varying depending on rainfall.

• Besides a few mammalian species including the endangered wild ass and the black buck, its migratory bird population includes rosy pelicans, flamingoes, white storks, brahminy ducks and herons. Thousands of migratory waterfowl flock to this sanctuary just after the Indian monsoon season.

• The wetland is also a lifeline for a satellite population of the endangered Indian Wild Ass (Equushemionuskhur) which uses

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this area in the dry season.

15 Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary

Tamil Nadu

385

• One of the last remnants of Dry Evergreen Forests.

• Habitat:Dry Evergreen Forests, Mangrove & Wetlands.

16 Pong Dam Lake

Himachal Pradesh

156

• A water storage reservoir created in 1975 on the Beas River in the low foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic plain.

17 Renuka Lake Himachal Pradesh

0.2

• A natural wetland with freshwater fed by a small stream flowing from the lower Himalayan out to the Giri river.

• The lake has high religious significance and is named after the mother of Hindu sage Parshuram, and is thus visited by thousands of pilgrims and tourists.

18 Ropar_Wetland Punjab

13.65

• A human-made wetland of lake and river formed by the 1952 construction of a barrage for diversion of water from the Sutlej River for drinking and irrigation supplies.

19 Rudrasagar Lake

Tripura

2.4

20 Sambhar Lake Rajasthan

240

• The Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake.

• Sambhar has been designated as a Ramsar site (recognized wetland of

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international importance) because the wetland is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia.

• The specialized algae and bacteria growing in the lake provide striking water colours and support the lake ecology that, in turn, sustains the migrating waterfowl. There is other wildlife in the nearby forests, where Nilgai move freely along with deer and foxes.

21 Sasthamkotta Lake

Kerala

3.73

• It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, situated inKollam district.

22 Surinsar-Mansar Lakes

Jammu and Kashmir

3.5

23 Tsomoriri Jammu and Kashmir

120

• A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level.

24 Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)

Uttar Pradesh

266

• The river provides habitat for IUCN Red listed Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial, Crocodile, 6 species of turtles, otters, 82 species of fish and more than hundred species of birds.

25 Vembanad-Kol Wetland

Kerala

1512

• Largest lake of Kerala. • Famous tourist locations like

Alappuzha and Kumarakom, known for house boats falls here.

• River mouths of Pamba-Achenkovilrivers in Vembanad forms one of the unique wetland topography

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of Kerala, the Kuttanad. It is below sea level and is famous for exotic fish varieties and Paddy fields that are below sea level.

26 Wular Lake Jammu and Kashmir

189

• The largest freshwater lake in India. It is fed by Jhelum River.

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Wetlands International:

Wetlands International is a global NGO that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources. It is an independent, not-for-profit organization, supported by governments and businesses from around the world. Wetlands International's work ranges from research, advocacy and engagement with governments, corporate and international policy fora and conventions.

National Wetlands Conservation Programme:

NWCP was started in the year 1985-86. Under the programme, 115 wetlands have been identified by the MoEF which require urgent conservation and management interventions. Criteria for identification of wetlands of national importance under NWCP are same as those prescribed under the Ramsar Convention.

The Central Government is responsible for overall coordination of wetland conservation programmes. It also provides guidelines, financial & technical assistance to state govt. The State Governments/UT Administration are responsible for management of wetlands.

Criteria for Identification of Wetlands under Ramsar

Convention:

• If it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type.

• if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species; or threatened ecological communities.

• If it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular region.

• If it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.

• If it regularly supports 20,000 or more water birds.

Take Home Point: Wetlands International is not an inter-governmental

organization. It is a not-for profit non-governmental organization.

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• If it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of water birds.

• If it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies • If it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery

and/or migration path. • If it is an important source of food and water resource, increased possibilities

for recreation and eco-tourism, etc.

Estuaries:

An estuary is a place where a river or a stream opens into the sea (mouth of the river). It is a partially enclosed coastal area of brackish water (semi-saline) with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it. At the estuaries, fresh water carrying fertile silt and runoff from the land mixes with the salty sea water.

Estuaries form a transition zone (ecotone) between river ecosystem and marine ecosystem. Estuaries are greatly influenced by tidal action. They are periodically washed by sea water once or twice a day based on the number of tides. In some narrow estuaries, tidal bores are significant. Tidal bores cause great damage to the estuarine ecology.

Importance of Estuaries:

• They are the most productive water bodies in the world because of the mixing of fresh water and saline water zone where marine organisms of both the ecosystems meet.

• Also, an estuary has very little wave action, so it provides a calm and peaceful habitat for many different aquatic organisms.

• Estuaries are most heavily populated areas throughout the world, with about 60% of the world's population living along estuaries due to the presence of fertile deltas.

• The vast mangrove forests in an estuary act as barrier to check the wind speed during cyclones and storm surge.

A Tidal Boreoccurs along a coast where a river empties into an ocean or

sea. A tidal bore is a strong tide that pushes up the river, against the flow

of the river.

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• Estuaries are rich in natural resources including fisheries. • They are deep and well protected from marine transgressions and hence

they are ideal locations for the construction of ports and harbours.

Example:Mormugao port in Goa.

At the mouth of the Zuaririver, the Mormugo port is crucial component in the flourishing export industry of the state. It accorded the major port status in 1963. It is the leading iron ore exporting port of India. It is also a major attraction for tourists coming to the Vasco da gama city.

Mangroves:

• Mangroves represent a littoral (near the edge of water body) forest ecosystem.

• These are mostly evergreen forests that grow in coasts, estuaries, tidal creeks, backwaters (coastal waters held back on land), marshes and lagoons of tropical and subtropical regions.

• Mangroves grow in the locations where abundant silt is brought down by rivers.

• Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems and the trees may vary in height from 8 to 20 m. They protect the shoreline from the effect of cyclones and tsunamis.

• They are breeding and spawning ground for many commercially important fishes.

• Since mangroves are located between the land and sea they represent the best example of ecotone.

• Mangroves are salt tolerant trees, also called halophytes, and are adapted to life in harsh coastal conditions.

• Mangroves occur worldwide in the tropics and subtropics, mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S.

• They require high solar radiation to filter saline water through their roots. This explains why mangroves are confined to only tropical and sub-tropical coastal waters.

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Mangroves in India:

• The mangroves of Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forest in the world. This mangrove forest is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger and crocodiles.

• The mangroves of Bhitarkanika (Orissa), which is the second largest in the Indian sub-continent, are the most species rich mangrove forest in India.

• Mangroves of Pichavaram and Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu are degraded mainly due to construction of aquaculture ponds and salt pans.

• In Gujarat (north-west coast) mangroves are found mainly in Gulf of Kachchh and the Kori creek.

• In size, mangroves range from bushy dwarf mangroves found in Gulf of Kuchchh, to taller species found in the Sunderbans.

• On the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the small tidal estuaries, and lagoons support a dense and diverse undisturbed mangrove flora.

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Mangroves in India:

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NOTES

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NOTES

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NOTES

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NOTES