Suggestions to include wetland conservation in upcoming biodiversity, climate change negotiations

Suggestions to include wetland conservation in upcoming biodiversity, climate change negotiations

Subject : Environment

Section: Climate Change

Context:

• Experts suggested wetland conservation targets for 2030 should be discussed during CoP15 (Convention on Biological Diversity to be held in Nairobi) and Conference of Parties (CoP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Need for include wetland conservation in biodiversity, climate change negotiations:

• Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests.
• The wetlands are home to 40 percent of the world’s plants and animals.
• Every year, 200 new species are found in freshwater wetlands and are responsible for sequestering almost one third of the global soil carbon.
• Negotiations at CoP15 will focus on achieving global biodiversity targets coinciding to protect 30 percent land and sea.
• However, including wetlands into land and ocean targets fails to recognise the specific and unique characteristics of wetlands interfacing between land and water, the experts said.

Definitions of wetlands

• The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands as “areas of marsh, fen, peat land 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 meters.”
• However, the Indian government’s definition of wetland excludes river channels, paddy fields and other areas where commercial activity takes place.
• The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change define wetlands as “area 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 meters, but does not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/ tanks specifically constructed for drinking water purposes and structures specifically constructed for aquaculture, salt production, recreation and irrigation purposes.”
  • Not every Ramsar Site is a notified protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Wetlands as kidney:

• Natural wetlands have often been referred to as “earth’s kidneys” because of their high and long-term capacity to filter pollutants from the water that flows through them.
• Wetlands ecosystems are vital parts of hydrological cycle, highly productive, support rich biodiversity and provide a wide range of ecosystem services such as water storage, water purification, flood mitigation, storm buffers, erosion control, aquifer recharge, microclimate regulation, aesthetic enhancement of landscapes while simultaneously supporting many significant recreational, social and cultural activities.
• Several people depend on wetlands for their livelihood as well as for food and water. Some wetlands also play a role in combatting the impacts of climate change like floods and extreme weather events. Wetlands are also amongst the earth’s top carbon stores and their conservation can help in reducing carbon emissions.

What are the threats to wetlands?

• The world has lost around 87% of natural wetlands since the 1700s and 35% have disappeared since the 1970s. India has lost nearly one-third of her natural wetlands to urbanisation, agricultural expansion and pollution over the last four decades.  It is estimated that wetlands are vanishing three times faster than forests and their rate of disappearance is increasing.
• Wetlands are threatened by reclamation and degradation through drainage and landfill, pollution (discharge of domestic and industrial effluents, disposal of solid wastes), hydrological alteration (water withdrawal and changes in inflow and outflow), over-exploitation of natural resources resulting in loss of biodiversity and disruption in ecosystem services provided by wetlands.

Does India have a policy to protect wetlands?

• On an international level, India is party to the Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• As part of the natural environment, wetlands are also protected by legislation. The Indian Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is a legislation to provide protection and improvement of the environment, including inter-alia, wetlands. The National Environment Policy, 2006 recognises the ecosystem services provided by wetlands and emphasises the need to set up a regulatory mechanism for all wetlands so as to maintain their ecological character, and ultimately support their integrated management.
• Specific to wetlands is the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The rules serve as a regulatory framework for conservation and management of wetlands in India. In early 2020, the ministry also released guidelines to support the state governments in implementing the rules.
• A National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA)was conducted in the country using Indian remote sensing satellites during 2006-2011. Subsequently, national and state-level wetland inventory atlases were released which have spatial data on wetlands for each State and UT.
• The central government provides assistance to state governments for implementation of management plans for prioritized wetlands. The National Wetlands Conservation Programme has been in operation since 1986. Since 2013, the programme is known as National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems. The Ministry of Jal Shakti operates a scheme for Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies.