Wetlands Biodiversity

One of the long standing needs for conservation of the wetland biodiversity in the country is to comprehensively priortize them. To begin with the process of priortization, a tentative list of wetlands were identified by referring to the data on the wetlands from SAC (1998), from Asian Waterfowl count for the last 12 years (Anon 1988,1990,1994,1995,1996, Mundkur and Taylor 1993; Perennou et al. 1994; Lopez and Mundkur 1997 and from the BNHS and Wetland Internationl). Thus a list of wetlands to be studied was prepared on the basis on earlier data and also based on the information of the local people. Thus the process of initial priortization, is a participatory exercise.

Each team was to collect data on waterfowl, vegetation cover, socioeconomic use of the wetlands by the villagers around, and also collect fish for assessing contamination level. However, data on vegetation and fishes were collected only from some of the wetlands.

Endemic wetlands plants, Threatened fishes and Threatened turtles

Summary of bird species and their abundance in the major freshwater wetlands in different states in India

Threatened birds observed in the major wetlands of India

Near Threatened birds observed in the major wetlands of India

Prioritization of Inland wetlands for conservation

Although as many as 16 parameters such as hydrology, birds, vegetation, fishes, and socioeconomic attributes were chosen for prioritization, criteria on birds, size of the wetland and socioeconomic were only considered for arriving at the conservation value assessment, as all other data were not available uniformly for most wetlands. Yet this exercise is again, first of its kind to be attempted at a national level. It must be added that there is ample scope to qualitatively and quantitavely improve upon this methodology and its application in any future attempt of this nature.

Major criteria identified for prioritizing the wetlands were birds as reconginsed by the Ramsar Convention Bureau (1971,1996). Size and economic use of the wetlands were also used. The specific criteria related to birds used were:

Criteria

 total number of species,
 total number of birds (abundance),
 number of species with 1% biogeographic population,
 number of threatened species,
 number of threatened birds,
 number of rare or near threatened species,
 number of species of raptors

In all, 655 inland wetlands were prioritized. Ranks were given for 604 wetlands according to the availability of the above data. Of the 604 sites surveyed, 167 were identified as top-ranking sites followed by 173 in the second rank and 264 in the third and fourth ranks together. Distribution of the prioritized wetlands is given in Fig.1.

Altogether 199 wetlands fulfilled more than one criteria to be qualified for declaration as Ramsar site (Table below). A few more wetlands which are currently included in the fourth rank are potential Ramsar sites. These sites, according to the AWC data are potential, but could not be assessed during year 2002, because of the drought. Distribution of the proposed Ramsar sites in each state is given in Fig.2.

Action needs to be taken on priority to prepare detailed proposal for the 199 wetlands to be brought under Ramsar sites. The remaining 438 wetlands prioritized for conservation, may be recognized as wetlands of national and local importance and, the entire 655 wetlands, may be brought under a National Network of Wetland Conservation Areas. Those wetlands while have 'low' use for the local people living around may be declared as protected areas, while those with medium and high use may be declared as Community Reserves to be managed by stakeholders with the participation of wildlife experts and managers.

Source: Vijayan V.S., Prasad S.N., Vijayan L. and Muralidharan S. 2004. Inland Wetlands of India-Conservation Priorities. Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore. pp. xxiv + 532

References

Anon. 1988. Asian waterfowl census. IWRB, AWB.

Anon. 1990. A Directory of wetlands in India. Ministry of Environment, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

Anon. 1994. Republic of the Philippensis - Conservation priority protected area project. World Bank/GEF. Washington D.C.

Anon. 1995. Integrated study for sustainable development of Kasaragode district of Kerala. Kerala State Land use Board, Thiruvanathapuram.

Anon. 1996. Asian waterfowl census. IWRB, AWB.

Birdlife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia. BirdLife International, Cambridge.

Lopez A. and Mundkur T. 1997. The Asian waterfowl census (1994-1996): Results of the coordinated waterbird census and an overview of the status of the wetlands in Asia. Wetlands International.

Mundkur T. and Taylor. 1993. Asian waterfowl census. 1993. AWB, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia ans IWRB, Slimbridge, UK.

Perennou C., Mundkur T., Scott D., Follested and Kvenild A.L. 1994. The Asian waterfowl census 1987-91: Distribution and status of Asian waterfowl. AWB Publication no.86/IWRB Special Publication No. 24. Asian Wetland Bureau, Kuala Lampur, and International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, Slimbridge.

SAC (Space Application Centre). 1998. Wetlands of India. Project Report: RSAM/SAC/RESA/PR/01/98.