Wetlands: The Lifeline of Our Ecosystem

Introduction to Wetland

• Wetlands, often called the Earth’s kidneys, are among the most productive ecosystems, offering vital services like water purification, flood control, and carbon sequestration.
•  They cover about 6% of the Earth’s land surface and support 40% of global species, as per the Ramsar Convention. 
• However, human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, and pollution have led to the loss of 35% of wetland areas since 1970.
• Nearly two of every five wetlands in India have lost their natural existence in the last 30 years while 40%of water bodies have lost quality for survival of the aquatic animals, according to estimates by Wetlands International (WI). 

What is a Wetland?

• Definition: “Areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters” – as defined by the Intergovernmental treaty ‘The Convention on Wetlands’. 

The State of Wetlands: A Global and Indian Perspective

• Global Status: 

• • • Wetlands are vanishing at an annual rate of (-)0.78%.
    • 81% of inland wetland species and 36% of coastal species have seen population declines since 1970 (WET Index).
    • Since 1900, 50% of the world’s wetland areas have disappeared, with a 35% decline recorded between 1970 and 2015.

• Wetlands in India: 

• • India has 89 Ramsar sites spanning 1.34 million hectares, but this is just a fraction of the total wetland area. Presently, India stands first in South Asia and third in Asia in terms of number of designated sites.
  • Wetlands make up 18.4% of India’s land area (excluding rivers), with 70% being used for paddy cultivation.
  • Coastal wetlands cover 6,750 sq. km, with significant mangrove ecosystems in Sundarbans, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Odisha, and Gujarat.
  • Many wetlands in southern India are artificial reservoirs, locally called “Yeris,” essential for water conservation and biodiversity.
  • Over 50% of India’s wetlands have disappeared due to encroachment, land-use changes, and pollution.
  • 70-80% of freshwater marshes in the Gangetic floodplains have been lost in the last 50 years.
  • Major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata have lost 71%, 85%, and 36% of their wetlands, respectively.
  • Indian mangrove cover has shrunk significantly from 700,000 hectares in 1987 to 453,000 hectares in 1995, with only 4,000 sq. km remaining today.

Why Are Wetlands Important?

• • Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing essential services that support biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and enhance climate resilience. Despite covering only 6% of the Earth’s surface, wetlands contribute significantly to environmental balance and economic prosperity.

• Economic Contributions: Wetlands directly sustain millions of people through fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. The East Kolkata Wetlands, a Ramsar site, function as the world’s largest natural wastewater treatment system, recycling sewage into fertile fishponds that generate over $100 million annually from fisheries. Similarly, the Vembanad-Kol Wetlands in Kerala, India’s longest lake system, supports more than 1.6 million fisherfolk and boosts eco-tourism through houseboat operations.

• Climate Resilience: As natural buffers, wetlands regulate floods and droughts, making them critical for climate adaptation. Studies show that mangrove forests reduce storm surge heights by up to 50% (World Bank, 2021). For instance, Odisha’s mangroves minimized the impact of Cyclone Fani (2019), reducing fatalities and infrastructure damage. Additionally, peatlands, which store 30% of the world’s soil carbon despite covering only 3% of land (UNEP, 2022), help mitigate global warming by sequestering atmospheric CO₂.

• Cultural and Recreational Significance: Many wetlands hold immense spiritual, aesthetic, and tourism value. For example, Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, attracts more than a million migratory birds annually, supporting a thriving bird-watching industry. Similarly, the Dal Lake in Kashmir is integral to local heritage, with floating gardens and houseboats that draw global tourists. The Pantanal in South America, the world’s largest tropical wetland, is renowned for wildlife safaris, bringing in millions of dollars through eco-tourism.

• Disaster Mitigation: Wetlands play a critical role in disaster risk reduction by absorbing excess floodwaters and protecting coastlines. According to the Economic Survey (2020-21), wetland conservation is a key Nature-Based Solution (NbS) for climate resilience. The Kosi River floodplains in Bihar, for example, act as a natural sponge, reducing the impact of seasonal floods. Similarly, the Tsunami of 2004 saw significantly less damage in areas with intact mangroves compared to degraded coastal regions.

• Ecological Role: Wetlands act as natural filters, improving water quality by trapping pollutants and sediments. They also support 40% of the world’s biodiversity (Ramsar Convention, 2021), serving as breeding and feeding grounds for countless species. For example, the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, is home to the endangered Bengal tiger and Irrawaddy dolphin, while also acting as a natural shield against cyclones. Similarly, Loktak Lake in Manipur, known for its floating phumdis, supports the Sangai deer, an endemic and critically endangered species.

Challenges to Wetland Conservation

• • Despite their importance, wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, with 35% lost globally since 1970 (Ramsar Convention, 2021). Several key factors threaten their existence.

• Climate Change: Changing climate patterns are altering wetland ecosystems worldwide. The Sundarbans, for example, are experiencing rising sea levels, leading to increased salinity, which threatens freshwater biodiversity and mangrove regeneration. Similarly, Wular Lake in Jammu & Kashmir, India’s largest freshwater lake, has lost 50% of its area (Wetlands International, 2020) due to erratic glacial melt and reduced monsoon inflow.

• Weak Governance & Public Awareness: Despite legal protections, ineffective enforcement of conservation policies and low public engagement hinder wetland preservation. The East Kolkata Wetlands, a Ramsar site, face ongoing encroachments and land-use violations due to weak regulatory oversight. Similarly, in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, wetlands are under severe threat from oil spills and illegal land reclamation, further exacerbated by governance failures.

• Biodiversity Decline: Wetlands are home to a vast array of species, many of which are declining at an alarming rate. According to WWF’s Living Planet Report (2022), populations of wetland-dependent species have declined by 81% since 1970. The Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, once a major wintering ground for migratory birds, has seen a drastic drop in Siberian crane sightings due to habitat degradation. Similarly, the Paraná River floodplain in South America has lost over 60% of its fish species (IUCN, 2021) due to dam construction and pollution.

• Urbanization & Land-Use Change: Rapid urban expansion has led to the drainage and encroachment of wetlands. In Mumbai, 71% of wetlands have vanished between 1970 and 2014 (Bombay Natural History Society, 2018) due to construction projects. Similarly, the Pallikaranai Marsh in Chennai, once covering 50 square kilometers, has shrunk to less than 10 square kilometers due to real estate development and waste dumping. This degeneration of Chennai’s wetlands compromised its resilience to 2015 floods. Consequently, the auto industry had to be shut down temporarily for 10 days, leading to a loss of Rs 10,000 crore which adversely affected the stock market. 

• Pollution: Industrial effluents, untreated sewage, and plastic waste are severely degrading wetland ecosystems. Bengaluru’s Bellandur Lake, one of India’s most polluted water bodies, frequently catches fire due to excessive chemical waste. Likewise, Deepor Beel in Assam, a critical habitat for migratory birds, suffers from heavy metal contamination due to unregulated municipal waste dumping.

Way Forward

• Stronger Policy Implementation: Strict enforcement of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 to prevent encroachments.
• Community Involvement: Engaging local communities in wetland restoration projects, such as the successful rejuvenation of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad through citizen participation.
• Sustainable Development: Promoting eco-tourism models like those in Kaziranga National Park, which benefit conservation while providing income for locals.
• Climate-Resilient Wetland Management: Implementing mangrove restoration projects such as those in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district, which help reduce coastal erosion.
• Technology & Innovation – Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing should be utilized for real-time wetland monitoring and blue-green infrastructure development in urban landscapes.
• International Best Practices – India can learn from global models such as the Netherlands’ “Room for the River” program, which integrates wetlands into flood control, and China’s “Sponge Cities Initiative,” which utilizes wetlands for urban water management.
• Financial Support – Adequate budgetary allocations should be made for wetland conservation at both national and state levels. Additionally, international funding sources like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) can be leveraged, and Wetland Conservation Bonds can be issued to finance restoration projects.