vii
Wetlands and lakes are the lungs of a nation. They not only help to harvest
water but they also harbour rich biodiversity and provide habitats for migratory birds. The Ramsar Convention provides guidelines for safeguarding the
routes for migratory birds. Quite often wetlands also provide opportunities
for raising crops like rice, in addition to rearing fi sh. The below sea level
farming system developed by farm families in the Kuttanad Region of
Kerala about 150 years ago is a good example of the benefi cial impact of
lakes and wetlands. The Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System has been
recognized by FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
Unfortunately many important wetlands in India like the Wuler and Dal
Lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chilka Lake in Odisha, Loktak Lake in
Manipur and Pulicat Lake in Tamil Nadu are all in serious ecological distress.
I hope this book will help to spread awareness of the importance of these
wonderful gifts of nature for human wellbeing and for the conservation of
aquatic and avian biodiversity. We owe a deep sense of gratitude to
Dr. Devashish Kar for his labour of love for the wetlands and lakes not only
of India but of the world.
Chairman, Research Foundation
M.S. Swaminathan
Foreword
Wetlands and lakes are the lungs of a nation. They not only help to harvest
water but they also harbour rich biodiversity and provide habitats for migratory birds. The Ramsar Convention provides guidelines for safeguarding the
routes for migratory birds. Quite often wetlands also provide opportunities
for raising crops like rice, in addition to rearing fi sh. The below sea level
farming system developed by farm families in the Kuttanad Region of
Kerala about 150 years ago is a good example of the benefi cial impact of
lakes and wetlands. The Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System has been
recognized by FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
Unfortunately many important wetlands in India like the Wuler and Dal
Lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chilka Lake in Odisha, Loktak Lake in
Manipur and Pulicat Lake in Tamil Nadu are all in serious ecological distress.
I hope this book will help to spread awareness of the importance of these
wonderful gifts of nature for human wellbeing and for the conservation of
aquatic and avian biodiversity. We owe a deep sense of gratitude to
Dr. Devashish Kar for his labour of love for the wetlands and lakes not only
of India but of the world.
Chairman, Research Foundation
M.S. Swaminathan
Foreword