An area that is saturated by groundwater or surface water having life adapted under those conditions. Fens, swamps, marshes, estuaries are the examples of wetland.
'Wetland vary widely in their salinity levels, climatic zones, supported flora, surrounding geography, whether they are coastal or inland and so on.'
-According to Environmental Protection Agency
Wetland promotes vegetation, stores water, does water filtration and provides a habitat for wildlife.
Wetlands can be of three types -
1) Marshes - These are poorly drained lowline areas which are frequently flooded and have grass like plants in it.
2) Swamps - These are fresh water wetland permanently lodged with water . This type of wet areas supports the plants densely packed shrubs and trees.
3) Reverine Forests - These are lowland areas covered alongside by rivers and periodically flooded.
* Estuaries and Mangroves are salty water Wetlands
Overview
Wetlands covers at lest six percent of the earth. At most places wetlands are considered as fresh water storage places which also fulfils the basic water needs of around half of the world's total population. Fisheries are also an important source of protein and income for the people who live around wetlands.
Man acts spoiled the ecosystem of Wetlands
Wetlands are often drained, drabbed or filled up for housing and industrial purposes. Most commonly, wetlands are used as dumping areas for the rubbish waste materials.
Currently around 1,85,400 hectares of wetlands are disappearing annually.
Freshwater wetlands are very important for our ecosystem as well as economy. Most of old civilization like Mesopotamia, Harrapan, Chinese etc. flourished around wetlands.
These are the habitat of micro organisms, plants, fisheries and other aquatic animals.
Many wetlands are visited by migratory birds like waterfowl, song birds, flamingos etc. They also acts as a healthy habitat for local resident birds.
Functions of Wetlands and their importance :
Wetlands control floods by carrying excess/extra water. Some of the flood water are stored in wetlands and slowly passes through streams. They act as a sedimentary traps. These areas stores, clean and purifies the running water even when it is polluted. Wetland can even filter out and absorb harmful bacteria from the water. Their complex food chain hosts various microbes, bacteria which invertebrates feed on. These invertebrates can filter up to 90% of bacteria out of the water this way.
The wetlands also work as a perfect place for water tourism industries, water sports like boating, fishing, natural studies and biological research etc.
2nd February is celebrated as Wetlands Day
Boarding wetlands by trees or shrubs to control the flow of silt and nutrients is required. Wetlands are able to produce biomass which is important for the development of alternative energy sources. It is important not only for the conservation of species present in these wetlands but also for a number of recreational opportunities.
2021
Indian government has decided to set the first of its kind wetland to be setup in Chennai.
No comments:
Post a Comment