Source: GWO
Context: The Global Wetland Outlook 2025, released by the Ramsar Convention, warns of accelerating wetland degradation worldwide, with over 35% lost since 1970, threatening biodiversity and climate resilience.
About Global Wetland Outlook 2025:
What Are Wetlands?
- Definition: Wetlands are ecosystems where land is covered by water (permanently or seasonally), supporting unique biodiversity.
- Types: Include marshes, swamps, bogs, peatlands, mangroves, and estuaries.
- Characteristics:
- High water saturation
- Unique soil types like hydric soils
- Vegetation like reeds, grasses, or mangroves
- Transition zones between terrestrial and aquatic systems
Key Data from Global Wetland Outlook 2025:
- Loss Rate: Wetlands are vanishing 3x faster than forests; over 35% lost since 1970.
- Biodiversity Decline: Populations of wetland species fell by over 80% between 1970–2022.
- Carbon Sink: Peatlands cover just 3% of Earth’s surface but store 30% of global soil carbon.
- Agricultural Stress: Nearly 50% of wetlands degraded due to agriculture and water extraction.
- India Insight: India has 19 Ramsar sites facing ecological stress, notably Keoladeo National Park and Chilika Lake.
Analysis – Opportunities & Concerns:
Positives:
- Biodiversity Hotspots: Wetlands like Loktak Lake and Sundarbans are lifelines for migratory birds, fish, and endangered species.
- Flood Regulation: Acts as natural sponges, reducing flood impact during heavy monsoons (e.g., Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh).
- Carbon Sequestration: Peatlands are efficient carbon sinks, supporting India’s net-zero targets.
- Livelihood Source: Supports 1 billion people globally—through fishing, agriculture, and tourism.
Challenges:
- Policy Fragmentation: Wetlands fall under multiple ministries, leading to poor coordination.
- Illegal Encroachments: Urban wetlands like Bengaluru’s Bellandur Lake face degradation due to encroachments and pollution.
- Data Deficiency: Lack of updated national wetland inventory; last comprehensive mapping done a decade ago.
- Climate Risk: Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns worsen wetland drying and salinisation.
- Overuse of Water Resources: Wetlands in Ganga plains face decline due to groundwater overextraction.
Recommendations:
- Unified Wetland Authority: Establish a centralised agency under MoEFCC for wetland governance.
- Revise Wetland Rules 2017: Include smaller urban and seasonal wetlands under legal protection.
- Incentivise Conservation: Use carbon credit mechanisms to reward local communities.
- Improve Mapping & Monitoring: Use AI-based remote sensing and satellite imagery for real-time wetland status.
- Mainstream into Climate Plans: Integrate wetlands in state climate action plans (e.g., Kerala’s Blue Carbon pilot).
- Community-Based Models: Adopt Wetland Mitras or eco-clubs in schools for monitoring and awareness
Conclusion:
Wetlands are not wastelands but ecological powerhouses critical to climate resilience, biodiversity, and livelihood security. Protecting them is essential for achieving SDG-13, SDG-15, and India’s net-zero 2070 vision.
