Wetlands : The kidney of the earth
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Dr N Munal Meitei
Contd from previous issue
Wetland stimulates plant recruitment from diverse seed bank and increases productivity by mobilizing nutrients.
Wetlands act as nature's shock absorbers. Peatlands alone store more than twice as much carbon as all the forests in the world. The role of forests to our wetland is vital and richness of our wetlands depend upon the luxurious of our forests.
Wetlands near urban centres are under pressure for residential, industrial and commercial facilities. Vast stretches of wetlands have been converted to paddy fields and fish farms. Construction of reservoirs, ca- nals and dams have altered the wetland hydrology.
The removal of materials from lowlands and riverbeds lowered the surrounding water table and dries up the adjacent wetlands. Dying up or blocking of streams are the main causes for death of the wetlands. But now wetlands are the most threatened ecosystem. Nearly 90% of the world's wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s and wetlands are disappearing 3 times faster than forests due to human activities and global warming. A small change in temperature and rainfall would be impacting on 40% of the world's flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands.
Unfortunately, wetlands are often viewed as wasteland. In reality, wetlands play a critical role in maintaining many natural cycles. Wetlands are aquatic islands in terrestrial sea harbouring a limited array of species populations that arrange themselves in a number of configurations.
India has recorded 757,000 wetlands and 96 Ramsar sites occupying 11.4% of country’s geographical area. Thus 10.2% of the earth’s total wetlands are found in India. Our wetlands support around 5100 species of flora and fauna. Wetlands in India support 20% of all the known range biodiversity in the country. But we have lost 30% of our wetlands due to urbanization, land use pattern and pollution.
Manipur, has 155 lakes and 2 ox-bow lakes occupying 2.37% of the geographical areasbut majority of them are in dying state. About 134 waterlogged marshy and swampy wetlands are also found in the State. But more than 64% of our wetlands have disappeared during the last eight decades. The number of wetland flora so far identified are 86 species in which 13 are clear water and 73 are semi aquatic. The faunal richness of our wetlands represents 10.80% of the whole country though we have only 0.7% of the geographical area.
Loktak Lake with 287 sq. km area is the largest fresh water lake in North East. Around 12 towns and 52 settlements with over 14% of State's population depend directly or indirectly on Loktak Lake. Other important wetlands are Kha- rungphat, Khoidumpat, Pumlenpat, Loukoipat, Sanapat, Yaralpat, Poi-roupat, Ikopat, Lamphelpat, Waithoupat and Loushipat.
These lakes remain threatened due to artificial eutrophication and large-scale encroachment. Soil erosion due to indiscriminate deforestation in the catchments followed by the change in the land use pattern inside the wetlands are the roots for the speedy dying of our wetlands. Change in waterways, excessive deposition of plastics and wastes are also another big challenges.
Enabling people for a decent living and ensuring the conservation and safety for wetlands is the primary objective of this day. The dreams of Manipur for being a world tourism hot spot will come true, only when we conserve our hills, forests, wildlife and the wet- lands altogether. Therefore, let’s join handtoday to save and secure our wetlands for a better tomorrow.
The writer is an environmentalist and presently working as DFO/Chandel, [email protected]
Contd from previous issue
Wetland stimulates plant recruitment from diverse seed bank and increases productivity by mobilizing nutrients.
Wetlands act as nature's shock absorbers. Peatlands alone store more than twice as much carbon as all the forests in the world. The role of forests to our wetland is vital and richness of our wetlands depend upon the luxurious of our forests.
Wetlands near urban centres are under pressure for residential, industrial and commercial facilities. Vast stretches of wetlands have been converted to paddy fields and fish farms. Construction of reservoirs, ca- nals and dams have altered the wetland hydrology.
The removal of materials from lowlands and riverbeds lowered the surrounding water table and dries up the adjacent wetlands. Dying up or blocking of streams are the main causes for death of the wetlands. But now wetlands are the most threatened ecosystem. Nearly 90% of the world's wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s and wetlands are disappearing 3 times faster than forests due to human activities and global warming. A small change in temperature and rainfall would be impacting on 40% of the world's flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands.
Unfortunately, wetlands are often viewed as wasteland. In reality, wetlands play a critical role in maintaining many natural cycles. Wetlands are aquatic islands in terrestrial sea harbouring a limited array of species populations that arrange themselves in a number of configurations.
India has recorded 757,000 wetlands and 96 Ramsar sites occupying 11.4% of country’s geographical area. Thus 10.2% of the earth’s total wetlands are found in India. Our wetlands support around 5100 species of flora and fauna. Wetlands in India support 20% of all the known range biodiversity in the country. But we have lost 30% of our wetlands due to urbanization, land use pattern and pollution.
Manipur, has 155 lakes and 2 ox-bow lakes occupying 2.37% of the geographical areasbut majority of them are in dying state. About 134 waterlogged marshy and swampy wetlands are also found in the State. But more than 64% of our wetlands have disappeared during the last eight decades. The number of wetland flora so far identified are 86 species in which 13 are clear water and 73 are semi aquatic. The faunal richness of our wetlands represents 10.80% of the whole country though we have only 0.7% of the geographical area.
Loktak Lake with 287 sq. km area is the largest fresh water lake in North East. Around 12 towns and 52 settlements with over 14% of State's population depend directly or indirectly on Loktak Lake. Other important wetlands are Kha- rungphat, Khoidumpat, Pumlenpat, Loukoipat, Sanapat, Yaralpat, Poi-roupat, Ikopat, Lamphelpat, Waithoupat and Loushipat.
These lakes remain threatened due to artificial eutrophication and large-scale encroachment. Soil erosion due to indiscriminate deforestation in the catchments followed by the change in the land use pattern inside the wetlands are the roots for the speedy dying of our wetlands. Change in waterways, excessive deposition of plastics and wastes are also another big challenges.
Enabling people for a decent living and ensuring the conservation and safety for wetlands is the primary objective of this day. The dreams of Manipur for being a world tourism hot spot will come true, only when we conserve our hills, forests, wildlife and the wet- lands altogether. Therefore, let’s join handtoday to save and secure our wetlands for a better tomorrow.
The writer is an environmentalist and presently working as DFO/Chandel, [email protected]