'We must do everything we can to protect our wetlands'

A few recent reports suggest that the country has lost a large number of wetlands in the past couple of decades. Manoj Misra, a former Indian Forest Service officer who is now convener of not-for-profit organisation ‘Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan’ (Living Yamuna Campaign) spoke to TOI on various aspects of wetlands: Reports suggest that nearly two of every five wetlands in India have lost their natural existence in the last 30 years. What’s the reason behind such rapid loss? This is a shocking finding to say the least. It is also symptomatic of a larger loss of water and water bodies that were the cornerstone of society-led water management in the country. Beginning with the colonial times when management of wetlands was snatched away from local people by government agencies in the name of revenue generation, the practices remained unchanged post-Independence and the result is there for all of us to see. Rather than taking responsibility for the upkeep of local wetlands, the people began to blame the state agencies for poor upkeep or not taking steps against the vested interests hell-bent on draining out and then usurping the wetlands. Local wetlands were part of the socio-economic and cultural life line of local people. But obviously this relationship has now been dislocated. medium97010436Besides important sources of water, wetlands provide many other ecosystem services. What are those other key benefits? Wetlands have several economic and ecological roles to play. They not only provide water for humans and cattle but also meet the local irrigation needs. They play an important role in the recharge of groundwater as well as provide habitat to large numbers of biota, both plants and animals, including water birds. They play an extremely important role in managing the runoff during monsoon and other storm events and prevent flooding. They also create a microclimate around them and help moderate ambient temperatures. Though the number of Indian wetlands for higher degree of conservation under Ramsar Convention (1971 intergovernmental treaty) has been increased to 75 with majority of them being added only in the past couple of years, there is still a long way to go. What measures should be taken to preserve the remaining ones? Just inclusion of a wetland under the Ramsar Convention is meaningless unless follow up resources are invested in them to restore them ecologically. Ramsar listing has no legal sanction under any Indian law and while it is a matter of prestige for a wetland to be declared a Ramsar-listed wetland it does not, ipso facto, help in its protection for restoration. Moreover, a mere 75 listed as Ramsar sites against such a vast number of certified wetlands (2,31,195) is a miniscule number. What is far more important is to first notify all remaining wetlands in the country under the Wetland Rules, 2017, prepare their management plans and to get them implemented through a missionary zeal. But before all that there should be a nationwide freeze order on conversion of any existing wetland into other land uses. Conserving wetlands is part of overall environmental protection. Do you think the existing laws are enough to protect them? While the wetlands deserve a law specifically for their conservation but till something of that kind happens, it is important that the provisions of Wetland Rules, 2017, created under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, are strictly implemented both by the Union and state governments. Wetlands as the name goes are lands which go under water and retain water either perennially or for some duration of the year. They go under different names including ponds and lakes, and could be both natural and manmade. They are also classified as high altitude (with low temperatures and ice formation), brackish (partly saline) or freshwater with specific ecologies. While rivers also carry water, they are not included within the term wetlands for their ecologies are much different. Rapid urbanisation took its toll on wetlands. What are your suggestions for urban planners? Urbanisation must be planned around and taking the existing wetlands into consideration. Also it is important that the catchments of wetlands are protected as much as lands which carry water. The current practice where water bodies have been allowed to be encroached or get surrounded by urban settlements and then some bits of them are beautified simply as artificial centres of recreation must be reviewed and replaced with ecological restoration practices.