657
with the local community and the corporate
sector to come together for an effective management plan. Active monitoring of these wetland
systems over a period of time is essential.
31.5 Comprehensive Inventory
There has been no comprehensive inventory of
all the Indian wetlands despite the efforts by the
MOEF, Asian Wetland Bureau (AWB) and World
Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature. The inventory
should involve the fl ora, fauna and biodiversity
along with wetland direct and indirect values. It
should take into account the various stakeholders
in the community too.
31.6 Legislation
There are, perhaps, several laws to protect the wetlands. But there is no special legislation pertaining
specially to these ecosystems. Environ ment Impact
Assessment (EIA) is generally needed for major
development projects. These EIAs are to highlight
threats to wetlands. Appropriate measures be formulated to conserve the wetlands.
31.7 Coordinated Approach
Wetlands are common properties with multipurpose utility. As such, their protection and management also need to be a common responsibility. An
appropriate forum may be set up for resolving the
confl ict on wetland issues. It is important for all
the relevant ministries to allocate suffi cient funds
towards the conservation of these ecosystems.
31.8 Research
Research works are needed in the formulation of
a national strategy to understand the dynamics of
the wetlands. This could be useful for the planners to formulate strategies for the management
and conservation of the wetlands. The scientifi c
knowledge may help the planners in understanding
the economic values and benefi ts from the wetlands.
This, in turn, may help in setting priorities and
focusing the planning process.
31.8.1 Water Resource
Management
It may be noted here that the modeling of watershed has become more physically based and
distributed to enumerate interactive hydrological
pro cesses considering spatial heterogeneity, with
the development of highly precise remote- sensing
techniques in spatial resolution and GIS. A distributed model with SCS curve number method called
Land Use Change (LUC) model was developed to
assess the hydrological changes due to land use
modifi cation. The model developed was applied
to Bagmati River catchment in Kathmandu Valley
basin in Nepal. The study clearly demonstrated
that integration of remote- sensing, GIS and spatially distributed models provides a powerful tool
for assessment of the hydrological changes due to
land use modifi cations.
31.9 Geospatial Technology
in Wetland Management
Remote-sensing data in combination with geographical information system (GIS) are effective
tools for wetland conservation and management
(Rao and Venkataratnam 1985 ). The application
encompasses water resource assessment, hydrologic modeling, fl ood management, reservoir
capacity surveys, assessment and monitoring of
the environmental impacts of water resources
project and water quality mapping and monitoring (Anderson et al. 1976 )
31.10 Flood Zonation Mapping
Satellite data are used for interpretation and delineation of fl ood-inundated regions and fl ood- risk
zones. Temporal data helps us to obtain correct
ground information about the status of ongoing
conservation projects. IRS 1C/D WiFS data
having 180-km spatial resolution and high temporal repetitiveness have been helping in delineating
31.10 Flood Zonation Mapping
with the local community and the corporate
sector to come together for an effective management plan. Active monitoring of these wetland
systems over a period of time is essential.
31.5 Comprehensive Inventory
There has been no comprehensive inventory of
all the Indian wetlands despite the efforts by the
MOEF, Asian Wetland Bureau (AWB) and World
Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature. The inventory
should involve the fl ora, fauna and biodiversity
along with wetland direct and indirect values. It
should take into account the various stakeholders
in the community too.
31.6 Legislation
There are, perhaps, several laws to protect the wetlands. But there is no special legislation pertaining
specially to these ecosystems. Environ ment Impact
Assessment (EIA) is generally needed for major
development projects. These EIAs are to highlight
threats to wetlands. Appropriate measures be formulated to conserve the wetlands.
31.7 Coordinated Approach
Wetlands are common properties with multipurpose utility. As such, their protection and management also need to be a common responsibility. An
appropriate forum may be set up for resolving the
confl ict on wetland issues. It is important for all
the relevant ministries to allocate suffi cient funds
towards the conservation of these ecosystems.
31.8 Research
Research works are needed in the formulation of
a national strategy to understand the dynamics of
the wetlands. This could be useful for the planners to formulate strategies for the management
and conservation of the wetlands. The scientifi c
knowledge may help the planners in understanding
the economic values and benefi ts from the wetlands.
This, in turn, may help in setting priorities and
focusing the planning process.
31.8.1 Water Resource
Management
It may be noted here that the modeling of watershed has become more physically based and
distributed to enumerate interactive hydrological
pro cesses considering spatial heterogeneity, with
the development of highly precise remote- sensing
techniques in spatial resolution and GIS. A distributed model with SCS curve number method called
Land Use Change (LUC) model was developed to
assess the hydrological changes due to land use
modifi cation. The model developed was applied
to Bagmati River catchment in Kathmandu Valley
basin in Nepal. The study clearly demonstrated
that integration of remote- sensing, GIS and spatially distributed models provides a powerful tool
for assessment of the hydrological changes due to
land use modifi cations.
31.9 Geospatial Technology
in Wetland Management
Remote-sensing data in combination with geographical information system (GIS) are effective
tools for wetland conservation and management
(Rao and Venkataratnam 1985 ). The application
encompasses water resource assessment, hydrologic modeling, fl ood management, reservoir
capacity surveys, assessment and monitoring of
the environmental impacts of water resources
project and water quality mapping and monitoring (Anderson et al. 1976 )
31.10 Flood Zonation Mapping
Satellite data are used for interpretation and delineation of fl ood-inundated regions and fl ood- risk
zones. Temporal data helps us to obtain correct
ground information about the status of ongoing
conservation projects. IRS 1C/D WiFS data
having 180-km spatial resolution and high temporal repetitiveness have been helping in delineating
31.10 Flood Zonation Mapping