Context
Recently, three new Ramsar Sites in Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav taking the tally of Ramsar Sites in India to 85. Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh are the latest to make entry into the list.
About Wetlands
- Wetlands are regions in which water covers the soil or is present at or close to the surface, developing specific ecosystems.
- The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands as areas that can be natural or artificial, permanent or brief, in which water is still or flowing, and can be sparkling, brackish, or salty.
- This includes marshes, fens, peatlands, or even shallow marine waters up to 6 meters deep at low tide.
- The definition emphasizes the variety of wetland types, covering various water situations and both inland and coastal ecosystems.
Significance of Wetlands
- Wetlands assist alter weather situations by carbon sequestration, this is, carbon storage from the environment.
- According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems within the international community, comparable to rainforests and coral reefs.
- They play a vital position in preserving biodiversity, regulating water cycles, and appearing as natural water purifiers.
- In India, wetlands like the Sundarbans in West Bengal and Chilika Lake in Odisha offer essential habitats for wildlife, guide livelihoods through fishing and agriculture, and assist in flood control, making them critical for environmental and financial balance.
Wetlands in India
- In India, wetlands are spread over 15260572 square kilometres (squarekm) which is ~4.63 percent of the full geographical area of the country.
- Of this area, inland-natural wetlands account for 45 % and coastal-natural wetlands 25%.
- State-wise distribution of wetlands showed that Lakshadweep has 96.12% of geographic area under wetlands observed by using Andaman and Nicobar Islands (18.52%), Daman and Diu (18.46%) and Gujarat (17.56%), have the highest number of wetlands.
Steps taken by India to protect wetlands
- The Indian government has launched a series of policies and tasks to protect wetlands, just like the National Wetland Conservation Programme of 1986 and the 2015 National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Wetlands.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also recognized over 2,200 wetlands for conservation schemes.
Ramsar sites
- The Ramsar Convention, formally referred to as the Convention on Wetlands, is an international treaty established in 1971 within the Iranian town of Ramsar.
- Its number one purpose is to preserve and sustainably use wetlands, which are important ecosystems that provide numerous ecological, financial, and cultural benefits.
- The Convention encourages the designation of “Ramsar sites,” which are wetlands of international importance due to their specific ecological traits.
- Member countries are obligated to maintain the ecological person of those sites and sell their sustainable use.
- Members
- Organisations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the World-Wide Fund for Nature, and other environmental corporations are related to the treaty.
- It also has 172 signatory countries.
- Criteria
- The selection of Ramsar sites is based on diverse criteria described underneath the convention.
- For example, “A wetland ought to be considered global critical if it helps plant and/or animal species at an important level of their existence cycles, or offers safe haven at some stage in adverse conditions.”
- It also appears at the web sites’ capacity to help fishes and waterbirds.
- Ramsar and India
- India joined it in 1982, to begin with designating the Chilika Lake in Orissa and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan.
- Today, the country Has a number of the maximum range of Ramsar sites in Asia.
India adds three new Ramsar sites
- Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary
- Located on the banks of the Noyyal River, it was to begin with a water reservoir for irrigation however has evolved into a crucial environment.
- It helps diverse bird species, consisting of the Eurasian coot, spot-billed duck, and diverse herons, and attracts migratory birds alongside the Central Asian Flyway.
- The wetland is now a biodiversity hotspot and supports local livelihoods by fishing.
- Kazhuveli Sanctuary
- Situated at the Coromandel Coast, it’s considered one of the biggest brackish water wetlands in south India.
- The environment ‘s mix of salt marshes, mudflats and shallow waters make it a home to many global endangered species, like the black-headed ibis and greater flamingo.
- It is also a stopover for migratory birds alongside the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
- In storing water, Kazhuveli also helps with flood control and groundwater recharge, supporting keeping the place’s water table.
- Tawa Reservoir
- It is fundamental in local water control.
- Created by damming the Tawa River, the reservoir became a large wintering surface for migratory birds.
- Tawa presents irrigation water to farmlands, drinking water to nearby groups, and sustains the local fisheries.
Source: Indian Express