615
D. Kar, Wetlands and Lakes of the World,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-1023-8_29, © Springer India 2013
29.1 Potentials
Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems, comparable to tropical evergreen forests in
the biosphere, and play a signifi cant role in the
ecological sustainability of a region. They are an
essential part of human civilisation meeting many
crucial needs of life on Earth such as drinking
water, protein production, water purifi cation,
energy, fodder, biodiversity, fl ood storage, transport, recreation, research education, sinks and climate stabilisers. The values of wetlands though
overlapping, like the cultural, economic and ecological factors, are inseparable. The geomorphological, climatic, hydrological and biotic diversity
across continents have contributed to wetland
diversity. Across the globe, they are getting extinct
due to manifold reasons, including anthropogenic
and natural processes.
Wetlands provide many services and commodities to the humanity. Regional wetlands are
integral parts of larger landscapes; their functions and values to the people in this landscape
depend on both their extent and their location.
Each wetland, thus, is ecologically unique.
Wetlands perform numerous valuable functions,
such as to recycle nutrients, attenuate fl oods,
maintain stream fl ow and recharge groundwater,
and also serve to provide drinking water, fi sh,
fuel and wildlife habitat, control rate of run-off
in urban areas, buffer shorelines against erosion
and offer recreation to the society. The interaction
of man with wetlands during the last few decades
has been of concern largely due to the rapid population growth accompanied by intensifi ed
industrial, commercial and residential development that further leads to pollution of wetlands
by domestic, industrial sewage and agricultural
run- offs, such as fertilisers, insecticides and
wastes. India has about 4.1 million hectares
(mha) of wetlands, of which 1.5 mha are natural
and 2.6 mha are human-made. The largest wetland regime of India is the Indo-Gangetic
fl oodplain.
Wetlands are often described as ‘kidneys of
the landscapes’ (Mitsch and Gosselink 1986 ).
Hydrological conditions can directly modify or
change chemical and physical properties, such as
nutrient availability, degree of substrate anoxia, soil
salinity, sediment properties and pH. These modifi -
cations of the physico-chemical environment, in
turn, have a direct impact on the biotic response in
the wetlands (Gosselink and Turner 1978 ).
29.1.1 Physico-chemical Potentials
of Wetlands
The wetland soil also plays a key role to receive
water from precipitation, to hold it and to pass
it to the groundwater through percolation or to
a water body through run-off. Also, many wetlands are potential reserves of water for various uses.
29
Potentials and Problems
of Wetlands
D. Kar, Wetlands and Lakes of the World,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-1023-8_29, © Springer India 2013
29.1 Potentials
Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems, comparable to tropical evergreen forests in
the biosphere, and play a signifi cant role in the
ecological sustainability of a region. They are an
essential part of human civilisation meeting many
crucial needs of life on Earth such as drinking
water, protein production, water purifi cation,
energy, fodder, biodiversity, fl ood storage, transport, recreation, research education, sinks and climate stabilisers. The values of wetlands though
overlapping, like the cultural, economic and ecological factors, are inseparable. The geomorphological, climatic, hydrological and biotic diversity
across continents have contributed to wetland
diversity. Across the globe, they are getting extinct
due to manifold reasons, including anthropogenic
and natural processes.
Wetlands provide many services and commodities to the humanity. Regional wetlands are
integral parts of larger landscapes; their functions and values to the people in this landscape
depend on both their extent and their location.
Each wetland, thus, is ecologically unique.
Wetlands perform numerous valuable functions,
such as to recycle nutrients, attenuate fl oods,
maintain stream fl ow and recharge groundwater,
and also serve to provide drinking water, fi sh,
fuel and wildlife habitat, control rate of run-off
in urban areas, buffer shorelines against erosion
and offer recreation to the society. The interaction
of man with wetlands during the last few decades
has been of concern largely due to the rapid population growth accompanied by intensifi ed
industrial, commercial and residential development that further leads to pollution of wetlands
by domestic, industrial sewage and agricultural
run- offs, such as fertilisers, insecticides and
wastes. India has about 4.1 million hectares
(mha) of wetlands, of which 1.5 mha are natural
and 2.6 mha are human-made. The largest wetland regime of India is the Indo-Gangetic
fl oodplain.
Wetlands are often described as ‘kidneys of
the landscapes’ (Mitsch and Gosselink 1986 ).
Hydrological conditions can directly modify or
change chemical and physical properties, such as
nutrient availability, degree of substrate anoxia, soil
salinity, sediment properties and pH. These modifi -
cations of the physico-chemical environment, in
turn, have a direct impact on the biotic response in
the wetlands (Gosselink and Turner 1978 ).
29.1.1 Physico-chemical Potentials
of Wetlands
The wetland soil also plays a key role to receive
water from precipitation, to hold it and to pass
it to the groundwater through percolation or to
a water body through run-off. Also, many wetlands are potential reserves of water for various uses.
29
Potentials and Problems
of Wetlands