World Wetlands Day

February 2 is celebrated as The World Wetlands Day around the world to mark the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the city of Ramsar in Iran in 1971. It is is a day to promote, create awareness and ensure positive & affirmative action for conservation of wetlands.

With a cover of 23% of geographical area of the country, forest in India comprise a number of diverse forest types and reserved areas designated as National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

In India, forest meet the livelihood needs of people living in and adjoining the forests in about 1, 73,000 villages. Forests also act as carbon sinks and regulators of water regime.

Water is life, and wetlands are the life support systems that ensure functioning of the water cycle. Wetlands help recharge groundwater aquifers, cleanse polluted waters, protect shorelines and act as sponges to mitigate floods.

The theme of World Wetlands Day this year is ‘Wetlands for our Future – Sustainable Livelihoods’. The theme highlights the value of wetlands in securing local livelihoods through activities as fishing, rice farming, tourism, and water provision.

The ‘wise use’ principle of wetland management encapsulates the linkages between wetland functioning and livelihoods, on sustainable basis guided by ecosystem approaches.

The National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) provides the policy framework and support to State governments for integrated management of wetlands, particularly as water and land are State subjects.

In a strategic step towards increasing the capacity of wetland managers in integrated and holistic management, upgrading the existing Wetland Research and Training Centre of Chilika Development Authority at Barkul, Odisha into the National Capacity Development Centre for Wetlands is also being envisaged.

The eighth National Steering Committee on Climate Change (NSCCC) recently approved a project titled ‘Promotion of Integrated Farming System of Kaipad and Pokkali in Coastal Wetlands of Kerala’ has been submitted by Government of Kerala.

The total cost of the project Rs. 33.73 crore envisions integrated farming methods, as climate smart practices to enhance resilience of aquaculture communities to climate change especially sea-level rise that results in severe intrusion of salinity.

The project will help simultaneous cultivation of rice and shrimp / fish in low-lying wetlands where there were no cultivation earlier. It will also check carbon emission, as wetlands have good potential to act as carbon sink.