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associated plant and animal life. They occur where the water table is at or near the surface of the
land, or where the land is covered by water. Once treated as transitional habitats or seral stages in
succession from open water to land, the wetlands are now considered to be distinct ecosystems
with specific ecological characteristics, functions and values.
According to most widespread definition wetlands are defined as: "lands transitional between
terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the
land is covered by shallow water".
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands define wetlands as: "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 metres".
Wetlands, natural and manmade, freshwater or brackish, provide numerous ecological services.
The density of birds, in particular, is an accurate indication of the ecological health of a
particular wetland. However, unsustainable use of wetland without reckoning of their
assimilative capacity constitutes major threat to the conservation and management of these vital
biodiversity rich areas.
1. National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP)
Government of India opertionalized National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) in
closed collaboration with concerned State Government during the year 1985/86. Under the
programme 115 wetlands (Table 1) have been identified till now by the Ministry which requires
urgent conservation and management initiatives.
Aim of the Scheme
Conservation and wise use of wetlands in the country so as to prevent their further degradation.
Objectives of the Scheme
The scheme was initiated with the following objectives:
to lay down policy guidelines for conservation and management of wetlands in the
country;
to undertake intensive conservation measures in priority wetlands;
to monitor implementation of the programme; and
to prepare an inventory of Indian wetlands.
Financial assistance under NWCP is provided for two components i.e. Management Action Plan
(MAP) and Research Projects. Under the Scheme, 100% assistance is provided for activities.
Conservation and management of wetlands is primarily vested with the State/UTs, who are in
physical possession of the area. After identification of wetlands under the Scheme, the State/UTs
are to submit long-term comprehensive Management Action Plans (MAPs) for a period of 3-5
years, preferably 5 years, coinciding with the Plan period.
The State Governments are advised to define objectives taking into consideration factors
responsible for degradation of the wetland. The MAP should also have short-term objectives to
cater to immediate problems confronting wetlands and to go in for immediate rectification
measures. The comprehensive MAP should be based on integrated and multi-disciplinary
approach. These are scrutinized and approved by the Central Government with such changes as
necessary in accordance with the Rules, procedures, and priorities of the particular area and
availability of funds. After the approval of MAP, funds are released annually to the State/UTs as
per Annual Plan of Operation (APOs) submitted to the Central Government.
2. Ramsar Convention on Wetland
The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty
which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the
conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are presently 158 Contracting
Parties to the Convention, with 1758 wetland sites, totaling 161 million hectares, designated for
inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. Ramsar Convention is the
only global environment treaty dealing with a particular ecosystem.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was developed as a means to call international attention to
the rate at which wetland habitats were disappearing, in part due to a lack of understanding of
their important functions, values, goods and services. Governments that join the Convention are
expressing their willingness to make a commitment to helping to reverse that history of wetland
loss and degradation.
In addition, many wetlands are international systems lying across the boundaries of two or more
countries, or are part of river basins that include more than one country. The health of these and
other wetlands is dependent upon the quality and quantity of the transboundary water supply
from rivers, streams, lakes, or underground aquifers. This requires framework for international
discussion and cooperation toward mutual benefits
Major obligations of countries which are party to the Convention are:
Name[3]
Location
Ashtamudi
1
Wetland
Kerala
857N
7635E
19/08/02
614
Bhitarkanika
2
Mangroves
Orissa
2039N
8654E
19/08/02
650
3 Bhoj Wetland
Madhya
Pradesh
2314N
7720E
19/08/02
32
4 Chandra Taal
Himachal
Pradesh
3229N
7736E
08/11/05
.49
5 Chilika Lake
Orissa
01/10/81
1165
6 Deepor Beel
Assam
19/08/02
40
East
Calcutta
West Bengal 19/08/02
Wetlands
23/03/90
Jammu and
08/11/05
Kashmir
22/01/02
125
41
13.75
1.83
A natural backwater
in Kollam district.
River Kallada and
Pallichal drains into
it. It forms an estuary
with
Sea
at
Neendakara which is
a famous fishing
harbour in Kerala.
National Waterway 3
passes through it.
Most
tastiest
stiest
backwater fish in
kerala , the Karimeen
of kanjiracode Kayal
is from Ashtamudi
Lake.
Image
Name[3]
Location
Keoladeo
National Park
Rajasthan
01/10/81
28.73
12 Kolleru Lake
Andhra
Pradesh
19/08/02
901
13 Loktak Lake
Manipur
23/03/90
266
24/09/12
123
Point Calimere
and Tamil Nadu 19/08/02
15 Wildlife
Bird Sanctuary
385
11
14
Nalsarovar Bird
Gujarat
Sanctuary
Himachal
Pradesh
19/08/02
156.62
17 Renuka Lake
Himachal
Pradesh
08/11/05
.2
18 Ropar_Wetland Punjab
19
Rudrasagar
Lake
20 Sambhar Lake
21
Sasthamkotta
Lake
22/01/02
13.65
Tripura
08/11/05
2.4
Rajasthan
23/03/90
240
Kerala
19/08/02
3.73
A
humanmade
wetland of lake and
river formed by the
1952 construction of
a
barrage
for
diversion of water
from
the
Sutlej
[4]
River
It is the largest
freshwater lake in
Kerala, situated in
Kollam
district.
River Kallada had a
unique replenishing
system through a bar
of paddy field which
has now disappeared
due to indiscriminate
sand
and
clay
mining. The lake is
Image
Name[3]
Location
22
SurinsarMansar Lakes
23 Tsomoriri
Jammu and
08/11/05
Kashmir
Jammu and
19/08/02
Kashmir
Upper Ganga
River (Brijghat Uttar
24
to
Narora Pradesh
Stretch)
25
Vembanad-Kol
Kerala
Wetland
08/11/05
19/08/02
3.5
120
265.9
1512.5
Largest
lake
of
Kerala,
spanning
across Alappuzha ,
Kottayam
,
and
Ernakulam districts.
Famous
tourist
locations
like
Alappuzha
and
Kumarakom, known
for house boats falls
here. River mouths
of
PambaAchenkovil rivers in
Vembanad forms one
of
the
unique
wetland topography
of
Kerala,
the
Kuttanad. It is below
sea level and is
famous for exotic
fish varieties and
Image
Name[3]
Location
Image
Jammu and
23/03/90
Kashmir
189
Montreux Record
Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of
International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or
are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human
interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List. The Montreux Record was established
by Recommendation 4.8 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990). Resolution 5.4 of
the Conference (1993) determined that the Montreux Record should be employed to identify
priority sites for positive national and international conservation attention. Sites may be added to
and removed from the Record only with the approval of the Contracting Parties in which they lie.
As of September 2007, 59 Ramsar sites are present in the Montreux Record 23 sites which had
been listed on the Montreux Record have since been removed from it
World Wetland Day
World Wetlands Day which is celebrated each year on 2 February, marks the date of the
adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on
the shores of the Caspian Sea. World Wetlands Day was celebrated for the first time on February
2, 1997, on the 16th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention. Each year since 1997, government
agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community
have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness
of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular.
3. Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
The necessity for the study and conservation of birds in particular, and wildlife and biodiversity
in general, prompted the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India to establish
the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History as a public - NGO partnership between
the MoEF, and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) under the Centre of Excellence
Scheme in 1988. The Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History (SACON) is a Society
registered in 1990 under the Societies registration Act, with the object of establishing and
developing a Centre of Excellence to assist, institute, conduct and promote scientific research in
ornithology, and of species, habitats and ecosystems with and within which avifauna coexist, and
developing scientific solutions to species, habitat and landscape conservation problems that are
sensitive to the socio-economic realities and aspirations of the people.
SACON commenced functioning in 1992, and is situated at Anaikatty, Coimbatore, Tamil
Nadu. A brief account of the organisation is given below:
Governance: The President of the SACON Society is the Hon'ble Minister for Environment and
Forests, GOI. The Centre is administered by a Governing Council, whose Chairperson is the
Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests. Research, education
and extension activities are monitored by a Research Monitoring and Advisory Committee
whose Chairperson is an ornithologist / wildlife biologist of eminence, and the finances of the
Centre are supervised by a Finance Sub-committee whose Chairperson is the Financial Advisor
to the MoEF.
Staff: SACON has a sanctioned staff strength of 22 scientists. It presently has eight scientists and
37 research fellows, and 15 administrative and support staff. The Centre is divided into the
functional divisions of Conservation Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Eco-toxicology,
Environmental Impact Assessment, Nature Education, Library, Administration and Finance.
Research Projects Undertaken: Since 1992, SACON has undertaken 174 Research and
Environment Assessment Projects with a financial value of approximately 12 crores.
Publications: The outputs of SACON include 161 reports, 263 papers in scientific / professional
journals, 409 presentations in seminars / symposia and workshops, 35 articles in News Letters,
11 Chapters in Books, and two Books. The Centre is affiliated to the Bharathiar University,
Coimbatore and so far 25 PhD degrees have been awarded or the dissertations submitted, five
MPhil degrees have been awarded, and the faculty have co-guided 22 MSc dissertations.
Infrastructure: SACON functions from a 55 acres campus at Anaikatty about 25 km west of
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The Centre has 6 blocks: central, east, library, laboratory, hostel,
kitchen & dining room, with a built up area of 3,746.91 m2 (40,333 ft2). The library has 3145
books, subscribes to 74 periodicals (43 International and 31 Indian) with 2508 back volumes and
2706 maps and subscribes to online archives such as JSTOR The laboratory is equipped to
examine environmental contamination in species and ecosystems, and the instrumentation
includes a UV spectrophotometer, HPLC, flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, with
graphite furnace and mercury hydride generator, dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen
demand incubators, high volume air sampler and a water quality analyzer.