Role of Wetlands in Environmental Sustainability

Introduction

Wetlands are highly productive and biologically diverse systems that are essential for local and global freshwater. Wetlands sustain many terrestrial life forms, significantly contributing to unique biodiversity with their complexity and diversity of species. Wetlands are a vital ecosystem. They cover only 6 % of the Earth’s land surface but at least 150 bird species and 200 fish species are dependent on wetlands. Basically, a wetland is an area of land that is either covered by water or saturated with water. Wetlands are well known for their ‘sponge’ functionality, they have the ability to absorb and dissipate floodwater, regulating stream flow through both wet and dry periods.[1]

Wetlands are vulnerable and threatened ecosystems across the country since 1970 i.e in just 50 years, 35% of the world’s wetlands have been lost. This happens due to human activities such as drainage and infilling for agriculture and construction, pollution, overfishing and overexploitation of resources, invasive species, and climate change. Wetlands are among the ecosystems with the highest rates of decline, loss and degradation. This loss of wetlands threatened livelihood.[2]

Potential of Wetland to Achieve Sustainable Goals

Wetlands as a nature-based solution can help in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN) in its 2030 Agenda, by restoring naturally occurring ecosystems. Instead of innovating man-made strategies and plans with lead to high maintenance, maintaining a naturally occurring ecosystem can lead to more sustainable and cost-effective solutions to current global challenges. The UN’s 2030 Agenda for sustainable development directs national policymakers to achieve progress across the economic, social and environmental dimensions of Sustainable development worldwide.[3]

To achieve this sustainable goal protecting wetlands is important as they offer critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife, they also purify polluted waters. These many wetland functions and values which will be discussed below can conclude that wetlands are increasingly seen as productive and valuable resources worthy of protection and restoration.

Fight Climate Change

Wetlands are home to an abundance of plant life that releases oxygen, while also sequestering huge amounts of carbon in their soils. In this way, wetlands act as carbon sinks in areas that take in more carbon than they release. Wetlands are a key player in the global greenhouse gas budgets. Wetlands can be a source of some greenhouse gases, especially when disturbed, but they are also an important sink for greenhouse gases, where carbon is stored and prevented from entering the atmosphere.[4] ????????

Fresh Water Stores

Wetlands absorb excess water and precipitation, which means they are nature’s disaster management systems, helping with flood alleviation, a necessity considering the devastating floods that have wreaked havoc around the world in recent years. Wetlands, including underground aquifers and man-made reservoirs, also provide water storage and purification through plants and microorganisms.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Wetlands provide shelter, breeding and nesting grounds for many species of birds and aquatic fauna. These marine forests protect coral reefs and their biodiversity as they trap sediment coming from inland areas. Inland waters house 40 % of the world’s fish species and wetlands and their surrounding areas are home to approximately 25 to 30 % of the world’s entire vertebrate biodiversity.

Sources of Livelihoods

Local communities highly depend on wetlands for their livelihood. Wetlands help sustain local communities and combat food insecurity by supporting fisheries, agriculture, livestock and fuel production. Income generated from healthy wetlands not only help society as a whole but it also ensures that by taking care of their wetland, people help to build a sustainable future for themselves.[5]

Impact of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Ramsar Convention was the Convention on Wetland of international importance and holds the unique distinction of being the first modern treaty between nations aimed at conserving natural resources. This convention was an eye-opener to all the countries as they were not much aware of the importance of wetlands. The Ramsar Convention encourages the designation of sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that are important for conserving biological diversity. Once designated, these sites are added to the Convention’s List of Wetlands of International Importance and become known as Ramsar sites.[6] As per the Times of India, August 2022 report, India’s wetland number rises to 75 which is the highest in Asia, and currently, there are 2,400 Ramsar sites around the world. So, it can be concluded that this convention has a positive effect which helps to protect wetlands all over the world.

Conclusion

Many challenges faced by mankind, such as climate change, water scarcity, hunger, etc can only be solved at a global level and at national level by adopting sustainable development. Targeting such objectives and setting up relevant plans can decrease the risk of losing valuable wetland-related benefits and help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).[7] ?Wetlands are highly productive and biologically diverse systems and if we lose them, not only we will stand to lose the vital natural services they provide but also, we will lose one of our key weapons in the fight against climate change.

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?Written by- Dr. Mayura Sabne & Akanksha Redij

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[1] David Black, “The Ecological Importance of Wetlands”, 24 June 2013, available at: https://bluenorth.co.za/the-ecological-importance-of-wetlands/

[2] World Wetlands Day, United Nations, available at:?https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-wetlands-day#:~:text=In%20just%2050%20years%20%E2%80%94%20since,invasive%20species%20and%20climate%20change .

[3] Samaneh Seifollahi-Aghmiuni ,Minnoka Nockrach & Zahra Kalantari , The Potential of Wetlands in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/3/609

[4] Wetlands & climate change, Department of Ecology, available at: https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Wetlands/Tools-resources/Wetlands-climate-change#:~:text=Wetlands%20mitigate%20effects%20of%20climate%20change&text=Coastal%20wetlands%20sequester%20carbon%20efficiently,soil%20than%20all%20tropical%20forests .

[5] Gabriela Díaz Musmanni, “5 Ways Wetlands are Crucial to Climate Change Adaptation” 2 February 2022, Available at: https://gca.org/5-ways-wetlands-are-crucial-to-climate-change-adaptation/\

[6] The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/water/wetlands/ramsar#:~:text=The%20Ramsar%20Convention%20encourages%20the,become%20known%20as%20Ramsar%20sites .

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