Wetlands As A National Public Good

After Reading This Article You Can Solve This UPSC Mains Model Question:

Discuss the major challenges and threats to wetlands in India and suggest context-specific measures to ensure their sustainable conservation and management. (250 words) (GS-3, Environment)

CONTEXT

World Wetlands Day 2026 (2 February) was observed under the theme: “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.” Wetlands are “multiple-use” systems and “nature-based infrastructure” sitting at the intersection of land and water.

Traditional Wetland & Water Management Systems

• Tamil Nadu: Kulams (human-made tanks) forming cascading irrigation networks for paddy.
• Kerala (Wayanad): Kenis (shallow wells) used for drinking water and rituals for over 200 years.
• Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam): Traditional fishing practices sustaining local livelihoods.
• Rajasthan (Baoris / Jhalaras): Ornate stepwells used for community water storage and social gatherings.
• North-East:
  • Zabo System (Nagaland) Combines water conservation with forestry, agriculture, and animal husbandry.
  • Bamboo Drip (Meghalaya) Using bamboo pipes to tap stream water for black pepper cultivation.

Status of Wetlands in India

• Ramsar Sites: India has 98 designated Ramsar sites, the highest in South Asia, covering over 1.3 million hectares.
• Total Count: India has over 7.5 lakh wetlands (mapping by ISRO’s National Wetland Inventory and Assessment).
• Geographical Spread: They cover approximately 4.63% of India’s total geographical area.

Alarming Trends: The “Red Flags”

• Massive Attrition: 40% of natural wetlands have been lost in the last 30 years—primarily due to urban conversion.
• Ecological Decay: 50% of remaining wetlands are considered “ecologically degraded,” meaning they no longer provide full ecosystem services (flood control, water purification).
• The “Double Bind” (Coastal Specific): Mangroves and lagoons are being “squeezed” between rising sea levels on the seaward side and infrastructure development on the landward side.

National & International Existing Regulatory Framework

1. National Regulatory Framework

• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017:
  • Legal Backbone: Notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  • Decentralization: Established State Wetland Authorities (SWA) to identify and monitor wetlands.
  • Prohibitions: Strictly bans activities like land reclamation, solid waste dumping, and discharge of untreated effluents.
• NPCA (National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems):
  • Integration: Merged the National Lake Conservation Plan and National Wetlands Conservation Programme.
  • Focus: Provides financial assistance for “outcome-oriented” management and conservation of both lakes and wetlands.
• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification:
  • Coastal Protection: Specifically protects coastal wetlands like mangroves, mudflats, and salt marshes (CRZ-I areas).
• National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031):
  • Inland Protection: Focuses on the conservation of inland wetlands as crucial habitats for migratory birds and aquatic fauna.
• MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes)
  • Focus: Afforestation of mangroves along the coastline and on salt-pan lands.
  • Data: Covers approximately 540 sq. km across 9 states and 4 UTs over 5 years.
• Amrit Dharohar (Ramsar Site Focus)
  • Focus: Ensuring “Wise Use” of Ramsar sites to balance conservation with economic development. India has increased its Ramsar sites to 98.

2. International Regulatory Framework

• Ramsar Convention (1971):
  • The “Wise Use” Principle: Sustainable utilization of wetlands for the benefit of humankind in a way compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties of the ecosystem.
  • Commitment: India’s 98 Ramsar Sites are designated as “Wetlands of International Importance,” requiring rigorous management plans.
• Montreux Record:
  • The “Red List”: A register of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to technological developments or pollution. (e.g., Keoladeo National Park, Loktak Lake).
• CDB (Convention on Biological Diversity):
  • Synergy: Wetlands are recognized as key biodiversity hotspots; their protection contributes to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • SDG 6 & 15: Specifically target water management and life on land/wetlands.

Significance of wetlands

1. Ecological Significance

• Biodiversity: Though they cover only 6% of the Earth’s surface, they are home to 40% of all species.
• The “Central Asian Flyway”: India’s wetlands (like Chilika or Keoladeo) are critical stopovers for over 270 species of migratory birds.
• Purification: Often called the “Kidneys of the Earth,” a single acre of wetland can filter 7.3 million gallons of water annually.

2. Hydrological Significance

• The “Sponge” Effect: One acre of wetland can typically store about 1–1.5 million gallons of floodwater.
• Groundwater: In India, wetlands are responsible for recharging aquifers that provide 80% of rural and 50% of urban water needs.

3. Climate & Disaster Risk Reduction

• Blue Carbon: Mangroves sequester carbon at a rate 2–4 times higher than mature tropical forests.
• Bio-Shields: During the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone, villages protected by wider mangrove belts (like Bhitarkanika) suffered significantly fewer deaths than those without.
• Sea-Level Rise: Coastal wetlands provide a buffer that saves an estimated $65 billion in flood damages globally per year.

4. Economic & Livelihood Significance

• Market Value: The global economic value of wetland ecosystem services is estimated at $47.4 trillion per year.
• Inland Fisheries: India is the 2nd largest producer of inland fish, a sector almost entirely dependent on healthy wetland ecosystems.
• Agriculture: Systems like the Kuttanad Above-Sea-Level Farming (Kerala) demonstrate how wetlands sustain food security.

5. Social & Cultural Significance

• Traditional Engineering: The Ahar-Pyne system of Bihar and Zing of Ladakh are centuries-old examples of “social hydrology.”
• Urban Identity: Wetlands like the East Kolkata Wetlands act as the city’s free sewage treatment plant, saving the municipality millions while providing livelihoods for 30,000+ people.

6. Urban Significance

• Heat Island Mitigation: Urban water bodies can reduce local temperatures by 2°C to 4°C.
• Economic Saving: Replacing a natural wetland with a drainage pipe system costs 3–5 times more in maintenance over its lifecycle.

Major Challenges to Wetlands

1. Structural & Anthropogenic Threats

• Hydrological Fragmentation: Dams, sand mining, and embankments disrupt the “timing and flow” of water, turning dynamic systems into stagnant pools.
• Catchment Erosion: Degradation of the surrounding basin leads to heavy siltation and the blockage of feeder channels.

2. Pollution & Ecological Decay

• The Eutrophication Crisis: Runoff from agriculture (nitrates/phosphates) and raw sewage leads to oxygen-depleted “dead zones” and algal blooms.
• Dumping Grounds: Urban wetlands are often used as de facto primary treatment plants and solid waste sites.

3. Climate & Coastal Dynamics

• The “Double Squeeze”: Coastal wetlands (mangroves/lagoons) are trapped between Sea-Level Rise (seaward) and Infrastructure (landward), leaving no space for migration.
• Extreme Events: Increased cyclonic intensity and shoreline erosion are overwhelming the natural buffering capacity of coastal ecosystems.

4. Governance & Institutional Gaps

• Departmental Silos: Land, water, and forests are managed by different agencies, preventing a “Watershed-scale” approach.
• Capacity Deficit: State authorities lack specialized skills in Hydrology, GIS, and Remote Sensing, leading to weak management plans.

5. Socio-Cultural Erosion

• Erosion of Stewardship: Modern management often ignores traditional knowledge (like Kulams or Ahar-Pynes), disconnecting local livelihoods from conservation.

Way forward

1. Boundary Security: Use satellite remote sensing and drones for participatory “ground-truthing.” Creating publicly accessible digital maps with clear demarcations to prevent “paper-dry” encroachments.

2. Integrated Watershed Governance: Establish a unified operational rhythm between urban planning, irrigation, and environment departments.

3. Nature-Based Infrastructure (NbS): Incorporate wetlands into Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) frameworks. Treat mangroves, floodplains, and urban lakes as “green/blue infrastructure” equivalent to “grey” infrastructure (dams/seawalls).

4. Institutional Capacity Mission: Accredited training in restoration of ecology, GIS, environmental law, and hydrology.

5. Mainstreaming Traditional Knowledge: Integrate community-led stewardship (like Kulams and Kenis) into modern conservation plans. The “Sahbhagita” model—engaging local “Wetland Mitras” to ensure “wise use” and livelihood-linked conservation.

Case Study on Wetlands

1. East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) (West Bengal)- “Living Laboratory”: Uses the city’s sewage to feed fish ponds (bheris). It is the world’s largest wastewater-fed aquaculture system.

2. Loktak Lake (Manipur)- “The Phumdi Management”: Use of traditional knowledge to manage floating islands (Phumdis) while balancing the needs of the Ethai Dam.

3.Pallikaranai Marsh (Tamil Nadu)- Adaptive Restoration: Efforts to reclaim the marsh from a massive garbage dump, highlighting the “Urban Significance” of wetlands.

Landmark Judgments

1. M.K. Balakrishnan vs. Union of India (2017): Mandated the geo-mapping of 2 lakh+ wetlands, extending legal protection to all wetlands regardless of their notification status.

2. H.N. Mehal vs. Union of India (2020): Invoked the “Public Trust Doctrine,” affirming the State as a trustee of water bodies, prohibiting their conversion for private or real estate use.

Conclusion

By 2030, India must transition from treating wetlands as “wastelands” to vital natural capital. By integrating AI-driven remote sensing with ancient ethno-hydrological wisdom, we can secure water resilience. Evolving wetlands into “Climate-smart Bio-shields” will ensure they remain functional ecosystems, safeguarding India’s biodiversity and economic future against the escalating climate crisis.