Wetlands as National Public Goods: UPSC Current Affairs

Description

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Picture Courtesy: THE HINDU

Context

World Wetlands Day was observed on February 2, 2026, with the theme 'Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage', emphasizing the need to blend ancient water management wisdom with modern governance to combat wetland degradation.

What is Wetlands?

Wetlands are unique ecosystems, often described as the "kidneys of the landscape," that are covered or saturated with water and act as transitional zones supporting diverse life.

Key Characteristics

Hydrology: The presence of water at or near the soil surface for long enough periods to influence the ecosystem.
Hydric Soils: Soils that are oxygen-poor (anaerobic) because they are saturated with water for extended periods.
Hydrophytes: "Water-loving" plants that have adapted to live and grow in wet, oxygen-poor soil.

Common Types of Wetlands

Marshes: Dominated by soft-stemmed herbaceous plants like grasses and reeds.
Swamps: Dominated by woody plants, such as trees or shrubs.
Bogs: Characterized by acidic waters and thick carpets of sphagnum moss; they receive water primarily from rainfall.
Fens: Similar to bogs but fed by groundwater, making them less acidic and richer in nutrients.
Coastal Wetlands: Include mangroves, salt marshes, and coral reefs.
Man-made Wetlands: Artificial sites like rice paddies, fish ponds, and reservoirs.

Current Status of Wetlands in India

Total Wetland Area: India possesses an estimated 16.89 million hectares of wetland resources, accounting for roughly 5.12% of the country's total geographic area.

Ramsar Sites: There are 98 designated Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance), covering over 1.36 million hectares.

Tamil Nadu holds the highest number of Ramsar sites (20), followed by Uttar Pradesh (11).
On World Wetlands Day 2026, two new sites were added to the Ramsar list: Patna Bird Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh) and Chhari-Dhand Wetland Reserve (Gujarat).

Key Conservation Initiatives

Amrit Dharohar Scheme: Launched in 2023, this three-year initiative aims to promote sustainable utilization of Ramsar sites, focusing on eco-tourism, community livelihoods, and carbon sequestration.

Mission Sahbhagita: A participatory mission launched in 2022 that has registered over 18,000 "Wetland Mitras" (community volunteers) and developed dynamic health cards for over 6,200 wetlands.

Wetland City Accreditation: In 2025, Indore and Udaipur became India's first cities to receive international accreditation for their exemplary urban wetland management.

Why are Wetlands Considered a 'National Public Good'?

"National Public Good" refers to resources that provide critical benefits to the entire country and cannot easily be excluded from anyone's use.

Ecological Security & Climate Resilience

They act as natural "sponges," absorbing heavy rainfall and mitigating urban floods. The degradation of the Pallikaranai marshland is a key factor behind the severe floods in Chennai (2015, 2023).
Coastal wetlands like mangroves are highly effective carbon sinks, sequestering carbon up to 55 times faster than tropical rainforests. (Source: UNESCO Report)

Water Purification

Known as the "kidneys of the landscape," they naturally filter pollutants from water.
Example: The East Kolkata Wetlands naturally treat the city's sewage, saving immense public funds on wastewater treatment plants .

Livelihood and Cultural Sustenance:

They support traditional livelihoods like fishing, agriculture, and water supply.
Tamil Nadu: The Kulams (man-made tanks) are vital for irrigation networks.
Kerala: The Kenis (shallow wells in Wayanad) are crucial for drinking water and tribal rituals.

Key Challenges in Wetland Conservation

Despite having the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA), implementation faces hurdles.

Challenge Area	Details	Example
Flawed Conservation Approach	Conservation is treated as a civil engineering "project" (beautification, concreting) rather than a scientific "process" aimed at restoring ecological functions like hydrology and biodiversity.	Concreting the shores of a lake, which destroys its natural gradient and habitat.
Legal & Definitional Gaps	States often delay the notification of wetlands to allow for commercial activities. The exclusion of river channels and paddy fields from the official definition leaves many critical wetlands unprotected.	A riparian wetland along a river being encroached upon because it's not officially notified.
Siloed Governance	Wetlands are managed by different departments with conflicting interests (e.g., Revenue Dept sees it as 'land', Water Dept sees it for 'irrigation'). There is a lack of a unified, watershed-scale governance model.	A real estate project being approved on a wetland's catchment area by one department, while another tries to conserve it.
Urbanization & Pollution	Unplanned urban growth leads to encroachment and the dumping of untreated sewage and industrial effluents, causing eutrophication.	The frothing and fires at Bellandur Lake in Bengaluru due to severe pollution.
Lack of Capacity	State Wetland Authorities often lack technical experts like hydrologists and ecologists, leading to unscientific management decisions.	Bureaucrats without scientific training making key decisions on wetland restoration.

Way Forward

Adopt Watershed-Scale Governance: Manage wetlands holistically by including their entire catchment area. This prevents the choking of feeder channels.

Enforce 'No-Go' Zones as Green Infrastructure: Strictly enforce rules like the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. Mangroves and floodplains should be recognized and invested in as "green infrastructure" for disaster risk reduction.

Integrate Modern Technology: Utilize Satellite Remote Sensing and GIS for real-time monitoring of encroachments and wetland health changes, enabling proactive, evidence-based management.

Mainstream Traditional Knowledge: Community wisdom is vital for conservation. Initiatives like Amrit Dharohar promote community stewardship. Local communities (e.g., fishermen) serve as pollution early-warning systems (bio-indicators).

Control Pollution at the Source: Ensure that all wastewater is treated at Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) before it is discharged into wetlands.

Build Institutional Capacity: Launch a National Capacity Mission to provide specialized training on hydrology, environmental law, and community engagement to wetland managers and officials.

Learn from Global Best Practice: The Netherlands' "Room for the River" flood management can be adapted as an urban "Room for the Wetland" policy.

Conclusion

India must shift its view of wetlands from "wastelands" to be developed to critical national public goods, moving towards a holistic, science-based "programme" of conservation that empowers local communities for a water-secure future.

Source: THE HINDU

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with modern scientific tools is essential for wetland resilience. Discuss. 150 words

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The theme for World Wetlands Day 2026 was ‘Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage’. It emphasized integrating ancient wisdom with modern governance to protect ecosystems.

Wetlands are called the "kidneys" because they naturally filter pollutants and improve water quality. A prime example is the East Kolkata Wetlands, which treats the city’s wastewater effectively, saving millions in treatment costs.

These are traditional water management systems. Kulams are human-made tanks in Tamil Nadu used for irrigation, while Kenis are shallow wells found in Wayanad, Kerala, used for drinking water and tribal rituals.