Wet lands are among the highly productive ecosystems on the earth and therefore they to be conserved as they provide multiple services like water purification, regulation of flow fisheries, habitats for plants, animals and micro organisms, opportunities for recreation and tourist absorbing water and therefore reducing flood risks. Usually wetlands are transitional areas bet aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Wetlands consist of areas of marsh, fen peat land of any t where water is static or flowing. It also includes fresh, brackish or saltiest area, including of backwater.
India has vast stretches of wetlands. Many of wetlands in India have been converted agricultural to industrial purposes and industrial effluents, sewage, household wastes sedimentation due to ecological degradation in catchment area affect them. Wetland ecosystem play a vital role in flood control, recharging of aquifers, regulating water quality, and reduce sediment load and pollution abatement.
They have elements for agriculture and breeding waterfowls. India has 16 wetlands of national importance, located in 16 states. The well development includes the following objectives:
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(i) Identification of possible ways of flood control mechanisms through wetlands
(ii) Assessment of wetlands resources and their loss in time series
(iii) Formulation and implementation of management action plans of identified wet lands
(iv) Scientific exploitation and use of wetland resources and their conservation development
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(v) Monitoring implementation of the programme of conservation management and research on wetlands
(vi) Preparation of an inventory of wetlands in different regions in the country
(vii) Action plans to control weed, siltation, pollution abatement, development of fisher
(viii) Promotion of environmental awareness and rational use of wetlands
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(ix) Biological methods of conservation of wetlands
(x) Periodic survey of socio-economic activities in wetlands and their consequence sustainability.