Wetland Creation, Restoration, and Conservation: Wetland Protection

Wetland Creation, Restoration, and Conservation: Wetland Protection

Nisha Khatik
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-9498-8.ch002
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Abstract

Water-dominated landscapes include wetland areas. The term “wetland” has not been commonly used until quite recently. It is believed to be a euphemistic equivalent of “swamp.” Every year on the second day of February, World Wetlands Day marks the adoption of the convention on Wetland by Ramsar, the Iranian city that has a special place in Iranian history. Flood protection, water quality improvement, shoreline erosion control, natural products, recreation, and aesthetics are some of the many advantages of wetlands, as well as the fact that they are vital habitats for a variety of animals and plants. Several studies illustrated the importance of wetlands in reducing carbon emissions and regulating climate on a global scale. In recent years, these advantages of wetlands have been recognized by governments worldwide and have led to legislation, regulations, and management plans creating wetlands for conservation, protection, and restoration. Unfortunately, the destruction of wetlands is a concern since they are among the planet's most productive areas.
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Introduction

Wetlands are one of the most expensive ecosystems on the planet (Mitsch & Gosselink, 2007). Wetlands are important for a wide range of processes, and they are key locations in the landscape for the creation, consumption, and maintenance and preservation of many natural cycles along with supporting biodiversity. Waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, loons, grebes, cranes, woodcock, kingfishers, and many songbirds rely upon wetlands during all or part of their life cycles. Wetlands related with springs and leaks might be as small as a few square feet while some Great Lakes swamps or peat lands cover a large number of sections of land. India has a long history and custom of preservation of natural assets. As a feature of strict custom, individuals adore and worship numerous streams and wetlands all through the country. For giving protection to delegate wetlands in India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India has attempted a National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) in the nation and brought National Wetland Conservation Program (NWCP) and National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) under its umbrella. A huge number of wetlands including Ramsar destinations, public parks, bird sanctuaries, advised wetlands and lakes get subsidizing for their preservation and action plan readiness under this program. Ministry has additionally sanctioned a few legislations for their protection also, the executives of wetlands including mangroves and coral reefs.

Ramsar convention (1971) on wetlands, the first intergovernmental convention for protection and 'wise utilization' of any environment, gone into force in 1975 and has 168 contracting parties from everywhere the world. So far the convention has 2169 wetland destinations under its aegis covering 206.64 million ha region (Ramsar Convention, 2013). India marked the Convention on February 1, 1982 and has recognized 26 wetlands (Chilka, Keoladev Public Park, Harike, Loktak, Chilka, Wular, Sambhar, Ashtamudi, Bhitarkanika, Bhoj, Deepor Beel, East Calcutta Wetlands, Kolleru, Point Calimere natural life and bird safe-haven, Pong dam lake, Chandratal, Renuka, Sasthamkotta, Tso Moriri, Hokera, Surinsar-Mansar, Vembanad-Kol, Kanjali, Ropar, Rudrasagar, Upper Ganga River-Brijghat to Narora, Bhoj and Nal Sarovar) for bearing the cost of need preservation in the country (Garg, 2013). In fact, more than one-third of the species listed as threatened or endangered in the United States live exclusively in wetlands and almost half use wetlands eventually in their lives (USEPA, 1995).

Wetland creation and Restoration can assist with keeping up with the advantages of wetlands and their encompassing biological systems and simultaneously accommodate the human requirement for advancement. Wetland creation is that the development of a wetland on a site that never was a wetland, while wetland restoration involves returning a wetland to its unique or past wetland state. Consequently, creation is more difficult than restoration. Restoration is the manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of returning natural/historic functions to former or degraded wetland. For Restoration takes place on land that has been, or still is, a wetland. A term related with restoration is “enhanced.” An upgraded wetland is a current wetland that has been adjusted to upgrade a particular function, normally to the detriment of different functions.

Wetland restoration and conservation is crucial to give natural surroundings to a large number of types of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. Before the mid-1970s, waste and obliteration of wetlands were acknowledged practices all throughout the world and were even empowered by explicit government policies. Wetlands were supplanted by agricultural fields and by business and private turn of events. The rate at which wetlands are being lost on a worldwide scale is just now getting clear, in part with the use of most recent advances related with satellite symbolism. Thus, in the event that we secure the wetlands and their resources, we additionally ensure our planet and ourselves.

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