666
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.
10. There are, perhaps, several laws to protect
the wetlands. But there is no special legislation pertaining specially to these ecosystems.
Environment 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. It may be noted here that the modeling of
watershed has become more physically
based and distributed to enumerate interactive hydro logical processes considering
spatial heterogeneity, with the development
of highly precise remote-sensing techniques
in spatial resolution and GIS.
14. Remote-sensing data in combination with
geographical information system (GIS) are
effective tools for wetland conservation and
management. 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.
15. 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 the zonation of
fl ooding areas of large waterbodies. Thus,
they also help in the preparation of statewise and basin-wise fl ood inventories.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. Wetlands are vital links in the manifold facets of life. Conservation of wetland means
conservation of ecological links.
20. In India, lakes, rivers and other freshwater
bodies support a large diversity of biota representing all almost all taxonomic groups.
Algae and AM represent the fl oristic diversity in the wetlands. Similarly, there is rich
diversity of animals in the wetlands. The rich
species diversity in many wetlands is an
indication of the importance of the aquatic
biodiversity issue as a whole.
21. Aquatic biodiversity is dependent on the
hydrological regime and geological conditions. Efforts are being made to conserve the
biodiversity in wetlands.
22. Wetlands are one of the most threatened
habitats of the world. Wetlands in India, as
31 Management and Conservation of 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.
10. There are, perhaps, several laws to protect
the wetlands. But there is no special legislation pertaining specially to these ecosystems.
Environment 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. It may be noted here that the modeling of
watershed has become more physically
based and distributed to enumerate interactive hydro logical processes considering
spatial heterogeneity, with the development
of highly precise remote-sensing techniques
in spatial resolution and GIS.
14. Remote-sensing data in combination with
geographical information system (GIS) are
effective tools for wetland conservation and
management. 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.
15. 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 the zonation of
fl ooding areas of large waterbodies. Thus,
they also help in the preparation of statewise and basin-wise fl ood inventories.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. Wetlands are vital links in the manifold facets of life. Conservation of wetland means
conservation of ecological links.
20. In India, lakes, rivers and other freshwater
bodies support a large diversity of biota representing all almost all taxonomic groups.
Algae and AM represent the fl oristic diversity in the wetlands. Similarly, there is rich
diversity of animals in the wetlands. The rich
species diversity in many wetlands is an
indication of the importance of the aquatic
biodiversity issue as a whole.
21. Aquatic biodiversity is dependent on the
hydrological regime and geological conditions. Efforts are being made to conserve the
biodiversity in wetlands.
22. Wetlands are one of the most threatened
habitats of the world. Wetlands in India, as
31 Management and Conservation of Wetlands