655
D. Kar, Wetlands and Lakes of the World,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-1023-8_31, © Springer India 2013
S tudies on freshwater bodies such as ponds,
lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, rivers and streams
have gained much signifi cance in recent years due
to their importance. These waterbodies harbour
wide array of aquatic organisms and should,
therefore, be properly managed and conserved
(Klee 1991 ).
Wetlands provide many services and commodities to humanity. Regional wetlands are
integral parts of larger landscapes. Their functions and values in these landscapes depend both
on their extent and their location. Each wetland
is, thus, ecologically unique. The interaction of
man with wetlands during the last few decades
has been of concern largely due to the rapid population growth accompanied with urbanisation.
This, further, leads to pollution of wetlands by
domestic sewage, industrial effl uents and agricultural run-offs, such as fertilisers, insecticides
and wastes.
Wetlands are often described as ‘kidneys of the
landscape’ (Mitsch and Gosselink 2000 ). Hydrological conditions may directly alter physical and
chemical properties, such as nutrient availability,
degree of anoxia, soil salinity, sediment properties, pH and DO profi le. These modifi cations of
the physico-chemical environment may, in turn,
have a direct impact on the biota in the wetlands
(Gosselink and Turner 1978 ). When hydrological
conditions in wetlands change even slightly, the
biota may respond with massive changes in species composition and richness and in ecosystem
productivity. Traditional limnological methods of
assessment of water quality are time consuming
and uneconomical. On the other hand, use of
remote-sensing data for assessment of water
quality and productivity in surface impoundment
is both cost-effective and fast. The indicators
useful for such an assessment include suspended
materials visible to the human eye, like the
suspended inorganic materials and organic detritus dyes.
Fishes are important bioresources in a wetland.
They are primarily adapted cold-blooded aquatic
vertebrates with paired and unpaired fi ns for
locomotion and gills for respiration. Fish serves
as an item of staple food of man in many regions
of the world. Wetlands and Fishery Management
(WFM) may be defi ned as the manipulation of
freshwater habitats, notably the wetlands and fi sh
population to maintain the habitat and to increase
fi sh yield for commercial and recreational uses.
The Fishery Managers generally apply a variety
of techniques in order to maintain, improve and
increase fi sh population.
31.1 Wetland Managers
and Wetland Management
It is known that there are wetland scientists who
uncover the processes which determine wetland
functions and values. So, too, are there those who
are involved in some of the many aspects of
wetland management by choice or by vocation.
These individuals are called ‘wetland managers’.
They are engaged in activities which range from
waterfowl management to wastewater treatment.
31
Management and Conservation
of Wetlands
D. Kar, Wetlands and Lakes of the World,
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-1023-8_31, © Springer India 2013
S tudies on freshwater bodies such as ponds,
lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, rivers and streams
have gained much signifi cance in recent years due
to their importance. These waterbodies harbour
wide array of aquatic organisms and should,
therefore, be properly managed and conserved
(Klee 1991 ).
Wetlands provide many services and commodities to humanity. Regional wetlands are
integral parts of larger landscapes. Their functions and values in these landscapes depend both
on their extent and their location. Each wetland
is, thus, ecologically unique. The interaction of
man with wetlands during the last few decades
has been of concern largely due to the rapid population growth accompanied with urbanisation.
This, further, leads to pollution of wetlands by
domestic sewage, industrial effl uents and agricultural run-offs, such as fertilisers, insecticides
and wastes.
Wetlands are often described as ‘kidneys of the
landscape’ (Mitsch and Gosselink 2000 ). Hydrological conditions may directly alter physical and
chemical properties, such as nutrient availability,
degree of anoxia, soil salinity, sediment properties, pH and DO profi le. These modifi cations of
the physico-chemical environment may, in turn,
have a direct impact on the biota in the wetlands
(Gosselink and Turner 1978 ). When hydrological
conditions in wetlands change even slightly, the
biota may respond with massive changes in species composition and richness and in ecosystem
productivity. Traditional limnological methods of
assessment of water quality are time consuming
and uneconomical. On the other hand, use of
remote-sensing data for assessment of water
quality and productivity in surface impoundment
is both cost-effective and fast. The indicators
useful for such an assessment include suspended
materials visible to the human eye, like the
suspended inorganic materials and organic detritus dyes.
Fishes are important bioresources in a wetland.
They are primarily adapted cold-blooded aquatic
vertebrates with paired and unpaired fi ns for
locomotion and gills for respiration. Fish serves
as an item of staple food of man in many regions
of the world. Wetlands and Fishery Management
(WFM) may be defi ned as the manipulation of
freshwater habitats, notably the wetlands and fi sh
population to maintain the habitat and to increase
fi sh yield for commercial and recreational uses.
The Fishery Managers generally apply a variety
of techniques in order to maintain, improve and
increase fi sh population.
31.1 Wetland Managers
and Wetland Management
It is known that there are wetland scientists who
uncover the processes which determine wetland
functions and values. So, too, are there those who
are involved in some of the many aspects of
wetland management by choice or by vocation.
These individuals are called ‘wetland managers’.
They are engaged in activities which range from
waterfowl management to wastewater treatment.
31
Management and Conservation
of Wetlands