659
wetlands. The rich species diversity in many
wetlands is an indication of the importance of the
aquatic biodiversity issue as a whole.
Aquatic biodiversity is dependent on the
hydrological regime and geological conditions.
Efforts are being made to conserve the biodiversity in wetlands. The goal of this effort is to conserve this rich biodiversity and to minimise their
loss through sustainable management and conservation practices. The fi rst step in the conservation of biodiversity is to assess and identify the
bioresources present. Awareness of the unique
nature of bio diversity and the plethora of factors
contributing to the decline in habitat quality and
species populations has been growing since few
decades.
Wetlands are one of the most threatened habitats of the world. Wetlands in India, as elsewhere,
are increasingly facing several anthropogenic
stresses. Thus, the rapidly expanding human
population; large-scale changes in land use, land
covers; burgeoning development projects and
improper use of watersheds; etc., have all caused
a substantial decline of wetland resources of the
country. Signifi cant losses have resulted because
of conversions due to industrial, agricultural and
various urban developments. These have led to
hydrological perturbations, different types of
pollution and their effects. Further, unsustainable
levels of grazing and fi shing activities have also
resulted in degradation of wetlands.
The present rate of loss of wetlands in India
could lead to serious consequences, particularly,
with regard to their signifi cant role in sustaining
c 74 % of the rural population in India. Many of
these people are resource dependent. Healthy
wetlands are essential in India for sustainable
food production and potable water availability,
both for man and livestock.
One of the long-standing needs for the conservation of the wetland biodiversity in the country
is to comprehensively prioritise them. To begin
with the process of prioritisation, a tentative list
of wetlands have been identifi ed by referring to
the data on the wetlands from Space Application
Centre (SAC), from Asian Waterfowl count for
the last couple of years. Thus, a list of wetlands,
to be studied, was prepared on the basis on earlier
data and also based on the information of the
local people. Thus, the process of initial prioritisation is a participatory exercise.
Each team was to collect data on waterfowl,
vegetation cover and socio-economic use of the
wetlands by the villagers around and also to collect fi sh for assessing contamination level.
However, data on vegetation and fi shes have been
collected only from some of the wetlands.
Wetland conservation is a very important issue
in the globe today in view of burgeoning urbanisation vis-a-vis wetland dereliction. Many countries
have different programmes on wetland conservation in view of the fact that these coveted resources
are to be conserved for the sustenance of civilisation. However, a brief account of status of conservation of wetlands in India is given below.
31.14 Ongoing Programmes
on Wetland Conservation:
Action Plan of Government
of India
(a) A user-friendly and cost-effective process of
wetland mapping has been completed from a
biodiversity conservation perspective.
(b) An inland wetland information system
encompassing, inter alia, ecological, ornithological and other biodiversity values and
socio-economic data on wetlands.
(c) Formulation of a basis and framework for
effective national, regional and subregional
monitoring of wetlands using satellite data,
ancillary data and other spatial information.
The programme output is expected to help in
evolving a National Inland Wetland Conservation
Strategy. The strategy includes policy, administrative and monitoring measures.
31.14.1 The Environmental Policy
and the Main Action Plan
31.14.1.1 Policy Support: National
Environment Policy
(NEP), 2006
The National Environment Policy (NEP), of the
Government of India, approved by the Cabinet on
19 May 2006, recognises the numerous ecological
31.14 Ongoing Programmes on Wetland Conservation: Action Plan of Government of India
wetlands. The rich species diversity in many
wetlands is an indication of the importance of the
aquatic biodiversity issue as a whole.
Aquatic biodiversity is dependent on the
hydrological regime and geological conditions.
Efforts are being made to conserve the biodiversity in wetlands. The goal of this effort is to conserve this rich biodiversity and to minimise their
loss through sustainable management and conservation practices. The fi rst step in the conservation of biodiversity is to assess and identify the
bioresources present. Awareness of the unique
nature of bio diversity and the plethora of factors
contributing to the decline in habitat quality and
species populations has been growing since few
decades.
Wetlands are one of the most threatened habitats of the world. Wetlands in India, as elsewhere,
are increasingly facing several anthropogenic
stresses. Thus, the rapidly expanding human
population; large-scale changes in land use, land
covers; burgeoning development projects and
improper use of watersheds; etc., have all caused
a substantial decline of wetland resources of the
country. Signifi cant losses have resulted because
of conversions due to industrial, agricultural and
various urban developments. These have led to
hydrological perturbations, different types of
pollution and their effects. Further, unsustainable
levels of grazing and fi shing activities have also
resulted in degradation of wetlands.
The present rate of loss of wetlands in India
could lead to serious consequences, particularly,
with regard to their signifi cant role in sustaining
c 74 % of the rural population in India. Many of
these people are resource dependent. Healthy
wetlands are essential in India for sustainable
food production and potable water availability,
both for man and livestock.
One of the long-standing needs for the conservation of the wetland biodiversity in the country
is to comprehensively prioritise them. To begin
with the process of prioritisation, a tentative list
of wetlands have been identifi ed by referring to
the data on the wetlands from Space Application
Centre (SAC), from Asian Waterfowl count for
the last couple of years. Thus, a list of wetlands,
to be studied, was prepared on the basis on earlier
data and also based on the information of the
local people. Thus, the process of initial prioritisation is a participatory exercise.
Each team was to collect data on waterfowl,
vegetation cover and socio-economic use of the
wetlands by the villagers around and also to collect fi sh for assessing contamination level.
However, data on vegetation and fi shes have been
collected only from some of the wetlands.
Wetland conservation is a very important issue
in the globe today in view of burgeoning urbanisation vis-a-vis wetland dereliction. Many countries
have different programmes on wetland conservation in view of the fact that these coveted resources
are to be conserved for the sustenance of civilisation. However, a brief account of status of conservation of wetlands in India is given below.
31.14 Ongoing Programmes
on Wetland Conservation:
Action Plan of Government
of India
(a) A user-friendly and cost-effective process of
wetland mapping has been completed from a
biodiversity conservation perspective.
(b) An inland wetland information system
encompassing, inter alia, ecological, ornithological and other biodiversity values and
socio-economic data on wetlands.
(c) Formulation of a basis and framework for
effective national, regional and subregional
monitoring of wetlands using satellite data,
ancillary data and other spatial information.
The programme output is expected to help in
evolving a National Inland Wetland Conservation
Strategy. The strategy includes policy, administrative and monitoring measures.
31.14.1 The Environmental Policy
and the Main Action Plan
31.14.1.1 Policy Support: National
Environment Policy
(NEP), 2006
The National Environment Policy (NEP), of the
Government of India, approved by the Cabinet on
19 May 2006, recognises the numerous ecological
31.14 Ongoing Programmes on Wetland Conservation: Action Plan of Government of India