636
indicate that as the number of threats increases,
the complexity associated with restoring and
managing these wetlands may also increase.
Notwithstanding the above, wetlands are culturally associated with ethos of Indian culture
and also may be in many other countries. As
such, measures may be adopted to protect the
wetlands from being much affected by offerings
of the religious festivals.
Administrative Challenges
Preservation of wetlands in India is now gaining
importance which is evident from the fact that the
Prime Minister’s Council on climate change
drafted and recently published an eight-point
national mission under NAPCC (National Action
Plan on Climate Change) with distinct clause on
the National Water Mission. ULBs (Urban Local
Bodies) have also realised the importance of
exploring alternative sources of water and have
identifi ed the freshwater wetlands and lakes as
decentralised systems of water supply. Some
efforts have, possibly, also been initiated in other
countries.
Summary
1. 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.
2. Wetlands provide many services and commodities to the humanity.
3. The potentials of wetlands are well recognised with regard to various aspects like
physico- chemical potentials of wetlands
pertaining to: wetlands recharge groundwater, wetlands for fl ood mitigation, wetlands
for recycle of nutrients (nutrient cycling),
wetlands as sinks of pollutants, wetlands for
maintenance of water quality, wetlands for
shoreline stabilisation and erosion control,
wetlands for dampening waves through friction, wetlands for silt trapping, wetlands
for storm abatement and control of erosion,
wetlands for biogeochemical functions and
associated values, wetlands for regulation
of water quality, wetlands regulating global
cycles of gases, wetlands for ecological
benefi ts, etc.
4. The potentials of wetlands are, further, well
recognised with regard to biological potentials pertaining to: primary production, secondary production, sustenance of species
diversity including wildlife, wetland value as
source of economically important biota
including fi sh yield, wetlands as store of natural fi sh food, wetlands as habitats for
aquatic macrophytes, wetlands as potential
reserve of fi shes and other animals, wetlands
as habitats for waterfowls, etc.
5. The sociologic potentials of wetlands are
also well recognised with regard to wetlands
for recreation and sports, wetlands for livelihood support including wetland products,
wetlands for cultural ethos, etc.
6. Further, the academic potentials of wetlands are dealt essentially with wetlands for
research works.
7. The potentials of wetlands have been exemplifi ed by a typical Asian wetland, the Sone
Beel, which is the biggest wetland in Assam
having huge potential for fi sh production
which could meet the defi cit of freshwater
fi sh supply in the region.
8. Wetlands are on decline. From satellite imageries, it is reasonable to assume that wetland
areas have declined considerably in the recent
years almost throughout the whole world.
9. Problems faced by wetlands have been dealt
with in different aspects, like burgeoning
population, problems of physico-chemical
nature, problems with regard to siltation and
shrinkage, problems with regard to pollution,
problems with regard to global climate
change and problems with regard to hydrological alteration(s).
10. Further, the problems of biological nature
are dealt with regard to eutrophication,
paddy cultivation , fi sh disease (particularly
EUS), introduced species and extinction of
native biota.
11. Problems of social nature are generally
dealt with regard to direct deforestation
in wetlands, encroachment, threats and loss
of wetlands, consequences of losing or
29 Potentials and Problems of Wetlands
indicate that as the number of threats increases,
the complexity associated with restoring and
managing these wetlands may also increase.
Notwithstanding the above, wetlands are culturally associated with ethos of Indian culture
and also may be in many other countries. As
such, measures may be adopted to protect the
wetlands from being much affected by offerings
of the religious festivals.
Administrative Challenges
Preservation of wetlands in India is now gaining
importance which is evident from the fact that the
Prime Minister’s Council on climate change
drafted and recently published an eight-point
national mission under NAPCC (National Action
Plan on Climate Change) with distinct clause on
the National Water Mission. ULBs (Urban Local
Bodies) have also realised the importance of
exploring alternative sources of water and have
identifi ed the freshwater wetlands and lakes as
decentralised systems of water supply. Some
efforts have, possibly, also been initiated in other
countries.
Summary
1. 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.
2. Wetlands provide many services and commodities to the humanity.
3. The potentials of wetlands are well recognised with regard to various aspects like
physico- chemical potentials of wetlands
pertaining to: wetlands recharge groundwater, wetlands for fl ood mitigation, wetlands
for recycle of nutrients (nutrient cycling),
wetlands as sinks of pollutants, wetlands for
maintenance of water quality, wetlands for
shoreline stabilisation and erosion control,
wetlands for dampening waves through friction, wetlands for silt trapping, wetlands
for storm abatement and control of erosion,
wetlands for biogeochemical functions and
associated values, wetlands for regulation
of water quality, wetlands regulating global
cycles of gases, wetlands for ecological
benefi ts, etc.
4. The potentials of wetlands are, further, well
recognised with regard to biological potentials pertaining to: primary production, secondary production, sustenance of species
diversity including wildlife, wetland value as
source of economically important biota
including fi sh yield, wetlands as store of natural fi sh food, wetlands as habitats for
aquatic macrophytes, wetlands as potential
reserve of fi shes and other animals, wetlands
as habitats for waterfowls, etc.
5. The sociologic potentials of wetlands are
also well recognised with regard to wetlands
for recreation and sports, wetlands for livelihood support including wetland products,
wetlands for cultural ethos, etc.
6. Further, the academic potentials of wetlands are dealt essentially with wetlands for
research works.
7. The potentials of wetlands have been exemplifi ed by a typical Asian wetland, the Sone
Beel, which is the biggest wetland in Assam
having huge potential for fi sh production
which could meet the defi cit of freshwater
fi sh supply in the region.
8. Wetlands are on decline. From satellite imageries, it is reasonable to assume that wetland
areas have declined considerably in the recent
years almost throughout the whole world.
9. Problems faced by wetlands have been dealt
with in different aspects, like burgeoning
population, problems of physico-chemical
nature, problems with regard to siltation and
shrinkage, problems with regard to pollution,
problems with regard to global climate
change and problems with regard to hydrological alteration(s).
10. Further, the problems of biological nature
are dealt with regard to eutrophication,
paddy cultivation , fi sh disease (particularly
EUS), introduced species and extinction of
native biota.
11. Problems of social nature are generally
dealt with regard to direct deforestation
in wetlands, encroachment, threats and loss
of wetlands, consequences of losing or
29 Potentials and Problems of Wetlands