658
the zonation of fl ooding areas of large river
bodies. Thus, they also help in the preparation of
state-wise and basin-wise fl ood inventories.
31.11 Water Quality Analysis
and Modeling
Remote-sensing data are used for the analysis of
water quality parameters and modeling. Water
quality studies, in this regard, are generally done
by using the relationship between refl ectance,
suspended solid concentration and chlorophyll-a
concentration. In the near-infrared wavelength
range, the amount of suspended solids content is
directly proportional to the refl ectance. Further, the
infl ow of sewage could be regularly monitored
through use of spatial and temporal resolution of
satellite data information along with the source
of pollution and the point of discharge. Certain
literature had monitored the suspended load in
estuarine waters of Hooghly, West Bengal, in a
GIS environment by using IRS LISS II data. In this
study, band 4 of the data set was found to show a
wider range of digital classes indicating a better
response with depth than the rest of the bands.
Landsat TM and IRS-1A data were used to estimate
sediment load in Upper Lake, Bhopal. This study
showed strong relationship between the satellite
as well as ground truth radiometric data and total
suspended solids. Different image processing
algorithms are also used on Landsat MSS data set
to delineate sediment concentration in reservoirs.
Qualitative remote-sensing methods are generally used for real-time monitoring of inland water
quality. Airborne sensor is usually used to study
the primary productivity and related parameters
of coastal waters and large water bodies
31.12 Building Awareness
It may be pointed out here that awareness among
the general public, educational and corporate
institutions may be created for achieving any
sustainable success in the protection of these
wetlands. Further, the policymakers at various
levels, along with site managers, also need to be
educated. It is because the country’s wetlands
are shared. Hence, bilateral cooperation in the
resource management needs to be enhanced.
The wetlands are also necessary for the continued existence of India’s diverse populations of
wildlife and plant species. A large number of
endemic species are wetland dependent. Most of
the problems pertaining to India’s wetlands are
related to human population. India contains
c 16 % of the world’s population and yet constitutes only c 2.42 % of the earth’s surface. The
Indian landscape has been losing natural wetlands over time. Restoration of these converted
wetlands is quite diffi cult once these sites are
occupied for non-wetland uses. Hence, the
demand for wetland products (e.g. water, fi sh,
wood, fi bre, medicinal plants) will increase with
the increase in population. Wetland loss refers to
physical loss in the spatial extent or loss in the
wetland function. The loss of 1 km
2 of wetlands
in India may have much greater impact than the
loss of 1 km
2 of wetlands in less populated areas.
The wetland loss in India can be divided into two
broad groups, namely, acute loss and chronic
loss . The fi lling up of wet areas with soil constitutes acute loss , whereas the gradual elimination
of forest cover with subsequent erosion and sedimentation of the wetlands over many decades is
termed as chronic loss .
31.13 Wetland Conservation
Wetlands are vital links in the manifold facets of
life. Conservation of wetland means conservation
of ecological links. These links build up ecological
stepping stones between less evolved and between
high species. Kanwar Lake provides a dazzling
nest for plethora of fl oral and faunal species which
are important stages of ecological pyramid.
31.13.1 Wetland Resources
and Their Conservation
In India, lakes, rivers and other freshwater bodies
support a large diversity of biota representing
almost all taxonomic groups. Algae and AM
represent the fl oristic diversity in the wetlands.
Similarly, there is rich diversity of animals in the
31 Management and Conservation of Wetlands
the zonation of fl ooding areas of large river
bodies. Thus, they also help in the preparation of
state-wise and basin-wise fl ood inventories.
31.11 Water Quality Analysis
and Modeling
Remote-sensing data are used for the analysis of
water quality parameters and modeling. Water
quality studies, in this regard, are generally done
by using the relationship between refl ectance,
suspended solid concentration and chlorophyll-a
concentration. In the near-infrared wavelength
range, the amount of suspended solids content is
directly proportional to the refl ectance. Further, the
infl ow of sewage could be regularly monitored
through use of spatial and temporal resolution of
satellite data information along with the source
of pollution and the point of discharge. Certain
literature had monitored the suspended load in
estuarine waters of Hooghly, West Bengal, in a
GIS environment by using IRS LISS II data. In this
study, band 4 of the data set was found to show a
wider range of digital classes indicating a better
response with depth than the rest of the bands.
Landsat TM and IRS-1A data were used to estimate
sediment load in Upper Lake, Bhopal. This study
showed strong relationship between the satellite
as well as ground truth radiometric data and total
suspended solids. Different image processing
algorithms are also used on Landsat MSS data set
to delineate sediment concentration in reservoirs.
Qualitative remote-sensing methods are generally used for real-time monitoring of inland water
quality. Airborne sensor is usually used to study
the primary productivity and related parameters
of coastal waters and large water bodies
31.12 Building Awareness
It may be pointed out here that awareness among
the general public, educational and corporate
institutions may be created for achieving any
sustainable success in the protection of these
wetlands. Further, the policymakers at various
levels, along with site managers, also need to be
educated. It is because the country’s wetlands
are shared. Hence, bilateral cooperation in the
resource management needs to be enhanced.
The wetlands are also necessary for the continued existence of India’s diverse populations of
wildlife and plant species. A large number of
endemic species are wetland dependent. Most of
the problems pertaining to India’s wetlands are
related to human population. India contains
c 16 % of the world’s population and yet constitutes only c 2.42 % of the earth’s surface. The
Indian landscape has been losing natural wetlands over time. Restoration of these converted
wetlands is quite diffi cult once these sites are
occupied for non-wetland uses. Hence, the
demand for wetland products (e.g. water, fi sh,
wood, fi bre, medicinal plants) will increase with
the increase in population. Wetland loss refers to
physical loss in the spatial extent or loss in the
wetland function. The loss of 1 km
2 of wetlands
in India may have much greater impact than the
loss of 1 km
2 of wetlands in less populated areas.
The wetland loss in India can be divided into two
broad groups, namely, acute loss and chronic
loss . The fi lling up of wet areas with soil constitutes acute loss , whereas the gradual elimination
of forest cover with subsequent erosion and sedimentation of the wetlands over many decades is
termed as chronic loss .
31.13 Wetland Conservation
Wetlands are vital links in the manifold facets of
life. Conservation of wetland means conservation
of ecological links. These links build up ecological
stepping stones between less evolved and between
high species. Kanwar Lake provides a dazzling
nest for plethora of fl oral and faunal species which
are important stages of ecological pyramid.
31.13.1 Wetland Resources
and Their Conservation
In India, lakes, rivers and other freshwater bodies
support a large diversity of biota representing
almost all taxonomic groups. Algae and AM
represent the fl oristic diversity in the wetlands.
Similarly, there is rich diversity of animals in the
31 Management and Conservation of Wetlands