Planning a National Aquatic Area Network (NAAN) for Conservation & Management of Rare, Threatened & Endangered Wetland Biodiversity B.C. Choudhury bcc@wii.gov.in Keynote Presentation on Biodiversity & Conservation of Wetlands on 29 th October, 2007 at the TAAL 2007, 12 th World Lake Conference, Jaipur, India (28 October 2 November, 2007)
The term "wetlands" groups together a wide range of inland, coastal and marine habitats which share a number of common features. Indeed over fifty separate definitions of wetlands are currently in use, with the broadest, provided by the Ramsar Convention, defining wetlands as: "areas 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 metres."
Wetlands are also transitional areas between dry terrestrial and permanent aquatic ecosystems (Eco-tones and therefore are more productive than just terrestrial ecosystems). In recent years, more particularly during the last three decades of the twentieth century wetlands are recognized as highly productive ecosystems and their importance in socio-economical and ecological frontiers has also been increasingly felt. Not surprisingly they are considered to be the repository of our WATERLOGGED WEALTH.
Wetlands are highly productive
MANY ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF WETLANDS MAINTANANCE OF HYDROLOGY FLOOD CONTROL CLIMATE STABILITY SHORELINE STABILISATION CARBON SEQUESTRATION WATER QUALITY & BIODIVERSITY SUPPORT HABITAT FOR RARE, THREATENED & ENDANGERED WILDLIFE
ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF WETLANDS WATER SUPPLY TIMBER, THRATCH, MEDICINE, FOOD, FODDER AND FUEL TRANSPORT FISHERIES AND AQUACULTRE TOURISM WATER SPORTS FLOOD PLAIN AQUACULTURE CULTRE AND HERITAGE INDUSTRIAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
HOW IMPORTANT ARE WETLANDS FOR BIODIVERSITY? Depending on the total geographic area wetlands cover in a country and their present ecological status (eg. India 75.8 m.ha, Inland : 35.6 m.ha, coastal : 40.2 m.ha) How much of Flora & Fauna Wetlands support (47% of india s flora and fauna) 25% of the Global Aquatic flora is reportedly supported in Indian Wetlands (Cyperaceae, potamogetonaceae, graminae) - Angiosperm 17500 1,500 of the 17,500 Angiosperm are in Indian Wetlands - All Algae (upto 3,000 sp.) are aquatic. - 2,000 sp. of mossess and lichens are in aquatic habitats
A Nation With A Diversity of Wetlands Will Support A Richer Biodiversity (Analyzed how many of the 22 recognized types of wetlands occur in a country & what is their present status & how they are being managed) High Altitude Lakes Rivers & Estuaries Coastal Lagoons Backwaters Salt Marshes Freshwater Lakes Flood Plain Wetlands Forested Wetlands etc.
Wetlands (Lakes) as obligate Biodiversity support systems and habitats for rare, threatened & endangered flora and fauna
Example: Coastal Lagoon - Chilika Features Length - 64 kms (max) Breadth - 20 kms (max) Avg. water spread area - 1065 sq. km Depth - 0.38 to 4.2 m Catchment area - 4406 sq kms No. of fishermen villages - 192 Total fisher folk - 0.2 million I N D I A Chilika Lagoon B a y o f B e n g a l
BIODIVERSITY OF CHILIKA 1.FISH 323sp. 2. BIRDS 211 sp. 3. MAMMALS 18 sp. 4. PROTOZOA 61 sp. 5. REPTILE 37 sp. 6. MOLLUSCA 136 sp. 7. CRUSTACEA 28 sp. 8. DECAPODA 30 sp. 9. PLANTS (27% of state s flora; 8 rare & 11 endemic sp.) 720 sp. 10.PHYTOPLANKTON 43 sp. 11.ALGAE 22 sp.
Threatened species of Avifauna Common Name Scientific Name 1 Dalmatian Pelican 2 Spot-billed Pelican 3 Pallas's Fish-eagle Pelecanus crispus Pelecanus phillippensis Haliaeetus leucoryphus 4 Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis 5 Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus 6 Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 7 Greater Adjutant 8 Paer s Pochard 9 Wood Snipe Leptoptilos dubius Aythya baeri Gallinago nemoricola
Bio-geographical population 1. Exceeded 1% in case of 30 species 2. Over 50% for Gadwall 3. Over 70% for the uncommon Large Whistling Duck
Chilika fisheries dominated by migratory fish species which maintain a phased life cycle Migratory Species 69% Resident Species 31% Brackish water fishes most dominant, followed by marine and brackish water fishes 48 species of fish, 4 species of prawn and 6 species of crab were the new record for chilika after opening of the mouth. Brack ish water fish species 45% Freshwater Species 26% Marine Fish species 29%
High Altitude Lakes in Indian Hiamalayas Biogeographic Region % land area of India Significant Biodiversity & Wildlife Values Trans Himalaya Tibetan Plateau & Ladakh mountains and North Sikkim,, North-western Anunachal Pradesh (1B) North-Western Himalayas Jammu & Kashmir (2A) Western Himalayas Kashmir vally and Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhant (2B) 2.3 Breeding group for at least 21 species of water birds including Black necked cranes. Major pasture for domestic and wild ungulates. Cultural and aesthetic value. 2.1 Staging ground for 42 species of water birds. Recharge groundwater Cultural and aesthetic Value 1.5 Waterfowl habitat Recharge ground water Maintain regional stream flow Cultural and aesthetic value. Central Himalayas (Sikkim( Sikkim) ) (2C) 0.2 Recharge ground water. Maintain regional stream flow. Cultural and aesthetic value. Eastern Himalayas Arunachal Pradesh (2D) 2.5 Winter ground water for water birds including black necked crane. Major pastures for domestic & wild ungulates. Recharge ground water. Maintain regional stream flow. Cultural and aesthetic value
Arid Zone & Saline Lakes Sambar Lake, Rann of Kutchch and Banni Grassland and Wetland in India - Important wintering grounds for migratory waterfowl (Sambar( Lake). - Important breeding ground of Flamingos (Rann( of Kutchch) - Asia s s largest natural and highest diversity of grass species (Banni( Banni)
Other Lakes of Significance Shallow Lakes Loktak Lake in North Eastern India important for Sangai Deer and Floating Vegetation. Urban Lakes Bhoj Wetlands in Central India & Hussain Sagar in Andhra Pradesh & the following: - Dal Lake, Nainital Lake, Otty Lake, Kodaikanal,, Lake Pichhola for recreation and aesthetic values.
Manmade Lakes 2.9% of India s s land mass are under inundated manmade water bodies providing an aquatic habitat for biodiversity, however, sub-optimal they may be. By 2030, manmade lakes may cover 4.9% of India s s land mass providing an opportunity for planning and preparing these aquatic habitats as biodiversity support systems.
All types of Wetlands are Common Property Resources (CPR) and therefore, a perfect example of tragedy of commons. Rural to National their importance is only understood when they become limiting or lost
Wetlands Supporting Globally Migratory Species in their Flyways
Wetlands Support a Range of Rare, Threatened & Endangered Resident Wildlife
Wildlife
Bird Watching
Mangrove creeks provide a life support system for a diversity of flora & fauna
So also Salt Marshes & Lagoon and Lakes
Threatened, Rare & Endangered Species whose survival depends solely on Wetlands Siberian Crane & other migratory waterfowls. Globally threatened species such as Gangetic Dolphin, Irawady Dolphin & Dugong. Critically endangered freshwater turtles. The Gharial Crocodile. The Sangai Deer and Wild Buffalo. The Indian One Horned Rhinoceros. Decling Amphibians, Salamanders & Newts.
Current Conservation and Management Approaches for Wetlands
Current wetland conservation paradigms To be managed as protected areas under the National Terrestrial Protected Area Network where management is strictly for protection not conducive to wetland management. To be declared as RAMSAR sites or biosphere reserves where resource utilization is possible but only with community involvement.
Designating a legal protected status for an identified Wetland In tune with any of the 8 categories of IUCN or a National Protected Area category. Indian Categories National Park, Sanctuary, Conservation Reserve, Community Reserve under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. As a RAMSAR Site, Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site or any other category as per the International obligations of a country.
The Need for Planning a National Aquatic Area Network (NAAN) The terrestrial PA Network planning is based on representation of all biogeographic zones and provinces. A similar approach of representation of all types of wetlands in a nation through a NAAN is required not only for conserving the diversity of wetland and their values, but also for creating an insurance against extinction of several rare, threatened and endangered flora & fauna endemic to nations and also that are globally shared resources.
How Can This Be Done? By recognizing Wetlands as important productive areas contributing to national well being. By not considering Wetlands as Wastelands. By documenting and inventorizing all types of wetlands. By adopting a National policy, strategy and action plan for Wetlands.
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