Wetlands of India

Wetlands are among the most productive and ecologically significant ecosystems on Earth. In India, wetlands play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, hydrological balance, flood control, groundwater recharge, and sustaining livelihoods. India, with its varied climatic and geographical conditions, possesses a wide diversity of wetlands, ranging from the high-altitude lakes of the Himalayas to the coastal mangroves and backwaters of peninsular India.
The conservation and management of wetlands have become an important component of India’s environmental policy, particularly under the framework of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971), to which India is a signatory.

Definition of Wetlands

According to the Ramsar Convention (1971), wetlands are defined 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.”

In the Indian context, as per the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, wetlands include:

• Areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water bodies (natural or artificial).
• Water areas, whether permanent or seasonal.
• Wetlands associated with rivers, floodplains, deltas, mangroves, coral reefs, and coastal lagoons.

This definition excludes paddy fields, river channels, and man-made water reservoirs used for irrigation or drinking purposes.

Distribution and Types of Wetlands in India

India has a total of around 757,000 wetlands, covering approximately 4.63% of the country’s total geographical area. They are widely distributed across all climatic zones — from the arid regions of Rajasthan to the humid tropics of Kerala and the cold deserts of Ladakh.
Major types of wetlands found in India include:

1. Inland Natural Wetlands:
   • Lakes, rivers, oxbow lakes, and floodplains.
   • Examples: Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir), Loktak Lake (Manipur), and Bhoj Wetland (Madhya Pradesh).
2. Inland Man-made Wetlands:
   • Reservoirs, tanks, ponds, and water storage structures.
   • Examples: Gobind Sagar Reservoir (Himachal Pradesh), Harike Reservoir (Punjab), and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (Karnataka).
3. Coastal Wetlands:
   • Lagoons, estuaries, mangroves, salt marshes, and coral reefs.
   • Examples: Chilika Lake (Odisha), Pulicat Lake (Tamil Nadu–Andhra Pradesh), and the Sundarbans (West Bengal).
4. High-altitude Wetlands:
   • Glacial lakes and alpine wetlands in the Himalayas.
   • Examples: Pangong Tso (Ladakh), Tso Moriri (Ladakh), and Chandertal Lake (Himachal Pradesh).
5. Deltaic and Mangrove Wetlands:
   • Found at river mouths where freshwater meets seawater.
   • Examples: Sundarbans Delta (West Bengal), Godavari and Mahanadi deltas.

Major Wetlands of India

India’s major wetlands represent ecological diversity and are critical habitats for wildlife, migratory birds, and local communities.

Ramsar Sites in India

India is one of the contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which aims at the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

• India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982.
• As of 2025, India has 80 Ramsar sites, covering an area of approximately 1.33 million hectares, the highest number in Asia.

Some prominent Ramsar sites include:

• Chilika Lake (Odisha) – India’s first Ramsar Site (designated in 1981).
• Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) – UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar Site.
• Sundarbans Wetland (West Bengal) – Largest mangrove ecosystem in the world.
• Loktak Lake (Manipur) – Known for floating Phumdis and endemic biodiversity.
• Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary (Gujarat) – Important migratory bird habitat.
• Pong Dam Lake (Himachal Pradesh) – Major reservoir wetland supporting migratory birds.
• Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (Karnataka) – South India’s largest bird sanctuary.

The Ramsar sites are spread across diverse ecological regions — from high-altitude wetlands of Ladakh to the coastal backwaters of Kerala.

Ecological Importance of Wetlands

Wetlands are often described as the “kidneys of the landscape” because of their ecological and hydrological functions. Their importance includes:

1. Hydrological Regulation:
   • Control floods by storing excess rainwater.
   • Recharge groundwater and maintain river flows during dry seasons.
2. Biodiversity Hotspots:
   • Provide habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including endangered species such as the Sarus Crane, Sangai Deer, and Irrawaddy Dolphin.
   • Serve as breeding and feeding grounds for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.
3. Carbon Sequestration:
   • Store large amounts of carbon in their soils and vegetation, helping mitigate climate change.
4. Water Purification:
   • Naturally filter sediments, nutrients, and pollutants, improving water quality.
5. Livelihood Support:
   • Support agriculture, fisheries, and tourism for millions of people.
   • Provide resources like reeds, fish, and medicinal plants.
6. Climate Buffer:
   • Moderate local climate, control erosion, and protect coasts from storm surges and sea-level rise.

Threats to Wetlands in India

Despite their importance, wetlands are under severe pressure from both natural and anthropogenic factors:

1. Encroachment and Urbanisation:
   • Wetlands are being drained for agriculture, housing, and infrastructure development.
2. Pollution:
   • Industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and sewage inflows have degraded many wetlands.
3. Over-exploitation of Resources:
   • Overfishing, excessive grazing, and extraction of water have disturbed wetland ecosystems.
4. Invasive Species:
   • Exotic plants such as Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) choke native vegetation and reduce biodiversity.
5. Climate Change:
   • Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and extreme weather threaten wetland hydrology and species composition.
6. Poor Management and Governance:
   • Fragmented institutional responsibilities and lack of community participation hinder effective conservation.

Conservation and Management Efforts

The Government of India, in collaboration with state agencies and international bodies, has launched several initiatives to protect wetlands:
1. Policy and Legal Framework

• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017: Provide for identification, notification, and management of wetlands under a regulatory framework.
• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA): Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in 2013 by merging earlier wetland and lake conservation programmes.

2. Institutional Mechanisms

• Establishment of State Wetland Authorities and National Wetland Committee for coordinated management.
• Implementation of Ramsar management plans at state level.

3. Community Participation

• Involving local communities, NGOs, and Panchayati Raj institutions in conservation efforts.
• Promotion of eco-tourism and sustainable livelihood projects around wetlands.

4. Restoration Projects

• Rejuvenation of degraded wetlands through desilting, pollution control, and hydrological restoration.

5. International Cooperation

• India actively participates in Ramsar Convention Conferences and contributes to the Global Wetland Outlook.

Major Initiatives and Success Stories

• Chilika Lake Restoration (Odisha): Once severely degraded, Chilika was restored through dredging, pollution control, and community participation, leading to its removal from the Montreux Record (list of threatened Ramsar sites) in 2002.
• Loktak Lake Management (Manipur): Ongoing efforts focus on balancing ecological conservation with local livelihood needs.
• Sasthamkotta Lake Conservation (Kerala): Focus on protecting drinking water sources and reducing pollution.