Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India's wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites.

Q17. Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India’s wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites. (15m) – Environment & DM

Introduction

Wetlands, the Kidney of the Earth, face major threats like encroachment, pollution, overexploitation of resources and sea level rise. India initiated the National Wetland Conservation Programme in 1986 for safeguarding wetlands..

Body

The National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP) and National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) were merged into a centrally sponsored, integrated scheme namely ‘National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems’ (NPCA) in 2013.

1. Aim: Holistic conservation and restoration of wetlands

Objectives of NPCA

Water quality enhancement,
Improvement in biodiversity and ecosystems.
Mainstreaming of wetlands in developmental programming

Approach- Four Pronged

Developing baseline information – Wetland Brief Document
Rapid assessment of wetlands condition – Wetland Health Card
Stakeholder platforms to enable collaborative and participatory management – Wetlands Mitras
Management planning addressing wetlands’ biodiversity and ecosystem services, values and threats – Wetland Integrated Management Plan

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)

Examples of India’s Wetlands of International Importance

There are 75 wetlands designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar List ensuring their sustainable use and coordinated protection.

Ramsar Site	Location	Facts
Thane Creek	Maharashtra	It is Asia’s largest creek, with a length of 26 km. Thane Creek is fed by numerous freshwater sources (of which Ulhas river is the largest), making the water brackish Important Bird and Biodiversity Area;: Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, part of Central Asia Flyway
Loktak Lake	Manipur	Famous for the phumdi floating over it; the only floating national park in the world, Keibul Lamjao, home to the Sangai species.
Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan	Largest inland saltwater lake in India; famous for migratory birds.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu	Small irrigation tank, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, included in Ramsar List in 2022.
Sundarbans	West Bengal	largest wetland site in India, largest mangrove forest of the world, located in Ganga- Brahmaputra Delta.

Issues/ Challenges with Implementation of NPCA

1. Limited Role of State Government: Leads to delay implementation and assessment on a yearly basis.

Lack of Research and Development

Data Deficiency

1. Limited Community Participation

Lack of Compliance; encroachment issues

Way Forward

Robust institutional mechanism in collaboration with the state government
Scientific research and the adoption of integrated techniques
Activating communities and stakeholders to promote beneficial wetlands behaviour.
Robust Compliance Mechanism for effective wetland management.

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