WETLAND ECOSYSTEM AND ITS IMPORTANCE
WETLAND ECOSYSTEM AND ITS IMPORTANCE
WETLAND ECOSYSTEM
- Wetlands are areas, intermediate or transitional, between water bodies and terrestrial habitats.
- Wetlands include lake littoral (marginal areas between the highest and lowest level of lakes), floodplains and other marshy or swampy areas, where water gets stagnated.
- Stagnation of water may be due to poor drainage, impervious soil or due to man-made factors such as accumulation of water in rice fields.
Importance of Wetlands
Wetlands have ecological, scientific, economic and aesthetic significance.
- Wetlands have ecological importance, because wetlands are habitat to various species of flora and fauna.
- Wetlands have scientific importance, because research on biodiversity can be undertaken in these regions.
- Wetlands have economic importance, because tourism and other revenue-generating recreational activities can be undertaken in these regions.
- Wetlands have aesthetic importance, because rich flora and fauna add beauty to these regions.
Functions of wetlands are as follows:
- Wetlands trap nutrients and sediments from running water. WETLAND ECOSYSTEM AND ITS IMPORTANCE
- As wetlands trap nutrients and sediments, they help in water purification.
- Wetlands are transitional areas between terrestrial and water bodies. Thus, these bodies reduce impact of flood on terrestrial areas.
- Wetlands even facilitate maintenance of stream flow in some areas by contributing water to dry streams.
- As wetlands are marshy regions, they assist in recharge of underground water.
- Wetlands minimise the impact of river on land and thus reduce soil erosion. WETLAND ECOSYSTEM AND ITS IMPORTANCE
- Wetlands act as an obstruction to running water and thus reduce the flow of running water.
Wetlands of India
- Wetlands are not only important from the perspective of environment, but these regions support millions of people directly and indirectly by providing food, water, source of livelihood, etc.
- India has nearly 27,500 wetlands. These wetlands cover 18.4% of the total area of India. Out of these wetlands, 70% are under paddy cultivation.
National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP)
- The NWCP was launched in the year 1985-86 for the conservation of wetlands. Under this programme, 115 wetlands (as on 31.12.2016) have been identified.
- The central government is responsible for financial and technical assistance to state governments, whereas state governments are responsible for the actual protection of wetlands.
Threats
- Wetlands face various threats due to reduction in the underground water, construction, sand mining, etc. WETLAND ECOSYSTEM AND ITS IMPORTANCE
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