Wetlands: Nature's Overlooked Guardians of Life

Author: Shraman Jha

"Wetlands are not wastelands; they are wonderlands."

– writes Edward Maltby, Professor Emeritus in Wetlands Sciences at the University of Liverpool. As the discussion around global climate change rises to a crescendo, these hitherto neglected, certainly unattractive-looking parts of the landscape (or waterscape) are finally getting their place in the sun, revealing their unique and captivating beauty.

But then, what are wetlands? As the name suggests, these areas are covered with water—seasonally or perennially. With a water table close to the land surface long enough every year, they support aquatic plant vegetation. With a rich range of plant and animal species, wetlands have the richest diversity of all ecosystems. And therein lies their worth.

The impact is wide-ranging- from containing the effect of "extreme events" – now a part of the common language after the IPCC 6th Reports – such as floods, to being sinks for carbon storage and regulating water cycles. Think no further than the Sundarbans to appreciate their role in absorbing storm surges and stabilizing shorelines, giving resilience to mitigate natural disasters, instilling hope in the face of climate change.

It is a tempting thought, especially in the land-scarce urban environments we live in, to think of draining the wetlands and putting them to more tangible, 'productive' use. Alternatively, filling them up to form a substantial water body like a lake is sensible. The answer lies in the social good versus private benefit logic, powerfully articulated by the Ramsar Convention: "The economic worth of the ecosystem services provided to society by intact, naturally functioning wetlands is frequently much greater than the perceived benefits of converting them to 'more valuable' intensive land use – particularly as the profits from unsustainable use often go to relatively few individuals or corporations, rather than being shared by society as a whole."

Ramsar, a tiny Iranian town on the Caspian Sea, is where the Convention on Wetlands was signed in 1971 as an international treaty. And it lends its name to the globally significant list of Wetlands – the Ramsar list. India, which had just 24 wetlands on this list in 2014, now has 85 – certainly a reflection of the increasing focus of both the government and civil society in valuing the multifaceted role of wetlands role. Just how significant are wetlands as a collective? Globally, the wetlands on the Ramsar list alone account for some 2.5 million square kilometers, only a little less than the total landmass of India!

Today, February 2, marks the anniversary of the signing of the critical convention, which has been observed as World Wetlands Day since 1997. This year's theme is 'Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future', firmly placing the discussion into the mainstream and inviting everyone to be part of the conversation.

Ecosystem services cover a wide range—groundwater recharge, storm protection, flood control, and more. Wetlands support many species across the plant and animal kingdoms as habitats for wildlife. They are also the temporary home for migratory birds. They are a haven for aquatic life and are of prime importance to fisheries. From a broader perspective, life re-generation requires pollination, and wetlands remain a vital habitat for bees and other insects.

These have a direct yet invisible contribution to society's economic, nutritional, and livelihood benefits. Fisheries and aquaculture are apparent, but bee-keeping and honey production may not immediately come to mind. Wetlands are vital for maintaining soil moisture at optimal levels in farmlands in the regions, so they are essential for productivity—soaking up the excess water and hydrating the soil when the farmlands dry up.

Increasing evidence shows they play a role in tackling climate change and adapting to its effects. Two very diverse examples of this are their role in carbon sequestration, which is capturing and storing carbon to prevent it from entering the atmosphere; wetlands capture and store about 20% of the world's organic carbon. On another plane, wetlands are vital for Water Purification - they act as natural filters, removing pollutants from water and improving water quality, especially in areas facing water scarcity or pollution.

An area of topical discussion have been the recent California wildfires. Would maintaining wetlands have made a difference? Wetlands can act as natural firebreaks, slowing the spread of wildfires. Their moist environments are less likely to burn, providing a buffer zone that can help protect surrounding areas. Wetlands help mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon, while wildfires release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Protecting and restoring wetlands can help balance these effects.

In a world where natural habitats, unhindered by human interference, are rapidly shrinking, wetlands serve as laboratories of study—ecosystems, conservation, and, most importantly now, climate resilience. They are not just passive victims of climate change but active players in mitigating its effects.

Most people living in cities may not have given much thought to wetlands. Presumably, they are far away—and not of much use or even beautiful like a large, blue water body. The global depletion of forests has received much comment and attention. We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, but this has yet to capture the public's attention. Wetlands are critically important ecosystems and impact our lives in multiple ways that we now have a flavor of.

World Wetlands Day is an opportune time to reflect on our understanding of the critically essential ecosystems of Wetlands. Though they may not always look pretty or well utilized, they are anything but wastelands.

(The author is the CEO of Hindustan Unilever Foundation. The views expressed are his own)