Not far from Dehradun lies the Asan Barrage wetland, one of India’s 75 designated Ramsar sites. I remember my early college fieldwork days, watching bar-headed geese land with such grace that even the wind seemed to pause. Today, I worry about how many such sights will remain for my daughter to witness. India’s wetlands—those vibrant, life-nurturing ecosystems—are vanishing at an alarming pace. And with their loss, we risk ecological collapse, biodiversity crises, and worsening climate vulnerability.
Why Wetlands Matter
Wetlands are often misunderstood as swampy wastelands. In truth, they are nature’s most efficient water purifiers, carbon sinks, and flood regulators. According to the Ramsar Convention, wetlands are “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water… whether natural or artificial.” In India, they support more than 240 species of birds, store floodwaters, and recharge aquifers. For millions of rural Indians, wetlands are also livelihood hubs—used for fishing, farming, and cattle grazing.
Yet, over 30% of India’s natural wetlands have disappeared in the last three decades alone (MoEFCC report). Satellite images from ISRO show that urban sprawl has claimed thousands of small wetlands across cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
Urbanization – A Death Knell?
Take the example of Bengaluru. Once known as the “city of lakes,” it had over 250 lakes in the 1960s. Today, fewer than 80 remain, and most are choked with sewage or concretized. Illegal encroachments, landfilling, and real estate booms have turned wetland beds into malls and apartment complexes. These vanishing wetlands have a direct correlation with the city’s chronic flooding issues and water scarcity.
But this is not just a big-city problem. Even in Uttarakhand, high-altitude wetlands are under stress due to tourism and glacier retreat, threatening endemic species like the black-necked crane and Brahminy duck.
Wetlands and Climate Resilience
In a warming world, wetlands are climate warriors. They store 20-30% of the Earth’s soil carbon, and unlike forests, they can sequester carbon even when submerged. During extreme weather events—cyclones, cloudbursts, or heatwaves—wetlands act as buffers. When Chennai flooded in 2015, research showed that restoration of its lost wetlands could have absorbed nearly 25% of the rainfall surge.
Policy vs Ground Reality
The Indian government has made strides. The National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) is in place, and citizen science platforms like India Biodiversity Portal are helping map wetlands. But implementation lags behind. Many wetlands remain unregistered and unprotected. Wetland conservation authorities are often underfunded and lack enforcement powers.
What We Can Do
- Support local wetland cleanups: Join efforts by NGOs or start your own in your locality.
- Report encroachments: Use tools like the Bhuvan Portal to check if wetlands in your area are being encroached.
- Educate others: Take your children or friends birdwatching. Once they see the magic, they’ll want to protect it too.
- Choose sustainable consumption: The less we waste, the less strain on ecosystems that support water purification.
In Closing
India’s wetlands are not just geographic features; they are the beating hearts of our ecosystems. From the mangroves of Sundarbans to the alpine wetlands of Ladakh, their conservation is no longer optional—it is survival. As someone raised amid the rivers and forests of Uttarakhand, I urge every reader to look around and ask—what wetland has silently protected your home, and what can you do to protect it in return?
— Divya, Environmentalist & Founder, Humming Genesis
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