Degradation of Indian wetlands and their restorution options

Abstract

Wetlands are wide ranging natural and manmade, permanent, temporary or seasonal water bodies or water saturated lands, fresh or saline waters. They are ecologically and economically important. In India, wetlands, both natural and manmade of different morphometries and sizes are very common everywhere especially in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala. The burgeoning human population, rapid industrialization, urbanization, expanding agriculture, land fills by garbage and effluent discharges are quite responsible for degradation of wetlands. Incredible efforts by Ministry of Environment (Wetland Unit), Indian Ramsar, Indian Unit of World Wide Fund for Nature Conservation are on the move in identifying the wetlands of national importance, strategies for their conservation and management. Detailed studies have been made on the wetlands, lakes and river corridors. The quantitative potential of marginal vegetation as filters for soil, water and chemicals and as heavy metal harvesters have been assessed and different restoration options are discussed.