35
International Importance (Ramsar Sites), which covers a surface area of 1,056,871
hectares. The wetlands in India are presently under immense stress due to:
1. Rapid increase of population: Population of India has increased from 0.4 billion
during 1940 to 1.3 billion in 2019. This increase in population has also increased
the food demand and water demand. As a result, this growth in population exerts
immense pressure on the wetlands and flood plain area (Bassi and Kumar 2012)
by converting wetlands into agricultural land.
2. Rapid urbanization: Rapid urbanization changes the land use pattern of the area
which modifies the hydrological pattern and the watershed of the area which
affect the structure and function of wetlands (Bassi et al. 2014).
3. Increase in discharge of sewage water, industrial water and other waste water
into the wetlands due to increase in urbanization and industrialization. As result
the water quality of the wetlands are degrading rapidly. The water in the wetlands also degrade due to excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in the agricultural field as these pesticides and fertilizers mixes with surface runoff and
discharges into the wetlands (Liu and Diamond 2005; Prasad et al. 2002).
4. Climate change: Climate will be a key factor of loss and change of wetland
ecosystem (CSE 2012). It has been estimated that India may lose 84% of coastal
wetland and 13% of saline wetlands due to 1 m sea level rise (Blankespoor
et al. 2012);
5. Over-exploitation of wetland resources: As a result of growing population, overexploitation occurs in the wetlands.
6. Direct deforestation: Alternative land uses for farming and fisheries production
have replaced many mangrove forest areas.
7. Hydrologic alteration: This occurs when either water is removed from wetlands
or land-surface elevation is raised to the point where it no longer floods.
8. Groundwater depletion: With pumping of groundwater, water table declines over
a large area resulting in drying of wetlands in that area.
According to a study by SANCON (1990), India has lost 38 % of its wetlands during 1980 to 1990. According to a published report in the weather channel (https://
weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2018-11-08-the-case-of-indias-disappearingwetlands), India is losing 2–3% of wetland annually.
2.7 Socio-economic Issues
2.7.1 Overpopulation and Depletion of Natural Resources
Overpopulation is a serious concern in the world today. Overpopulation is a major
threat to our existence and the world needs to address the situation, especially the
developing countries. According to the UN (2019), the present population in the
world is 7.7 billion which is projected to grow 10% by 2030 (8.5 billion), and 26%
2 Contemporary Environmental Issues – The Indian Perspective
International Importance (Ramsar Sites), which covers a surface area of 1,056,871
hectares. The wetlands in India are presently under immense stress due to:
1. Rapid increase of population: Population of India has increased from 0.4 billion
during 1940 to 1.3 billion in 2019. This increase in population has also increased
the food demand and water demand. As a result, this growth in population exerts
immense pressure on the wetlands and flood plain area (Bassi and Kumar 2012)
by converting wetlands into agricultural land.
2. Rapid urbanization: Rapid urbanization changes the land use pattern of the area
which modifies the hydrological pattern and the watershed of the area which
affect the structure and function of wetlands (Bassi et al. 2014).
3. Increase in discharge of sewage water, industrial water and other waste water
into the wetlands due to increase in urbanization and industrialization. As result
the water quality of the wetlands are degrading rapidly. The water in the wetlands also degrade due to excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in the agricultural field as these pesticides and fertilizers mixes with surface runoff and
discharges into the wetlands (Liu and Diamond 2005; Prasad et al. 2002).
4. Climate change: Climate will be a key factor of loss and change of wetland
ecosystem (CSE 2012). It has been estimated that India may lose 84% of coastal
wetland and 13% of saline wetlands due to 1 m sea level rise (Blankespoor
et al. 2012);
5. Over-exploitation of wetland resources: As a result of growing population, overexploitation occurs in the wetlands.
6. Direct deforestation: Alternative land uses for farming and fisheries production
have replaced many mangrove forest areas.
7. Hydrologic alteration: This occurs when either water is removed from wetlands
or land-surface elevation is raised to the point where it no longer floods.
8. Groundwater depletion: With pumping of groundwater, water table declines over
a large area resulting in drying of wetlands in that area.
According to a study by SANCON (1990), India has lost 38 % of its wetlands during 1980 to 1990. According to a published report in the weather channel (https://
weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2018-11-08-the-case-of-indias-disappearingwetlands), India is losing 2–3% of wetland annually.
2.7 Socio-economic Issues
2.7.1 Overpopulation and Depletion of Natural Resources
Overpopulation is a serious concern in the world today. Overpopulation is a major
threat to our existence and the world needs to address the situation, especially the
developing countries. According to the UN (2019), the present population in the
world is 7.7 billion which is projected to grow 10% by 2030 (8.5 billion), and 26%
2 Contemporary Environmental Issues – The Indian Perspective