Living Sieves of Earth

Renuka Ji Wildlife Sanctuary and Ramsar Wetland, Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh.

From ride of rain to gulp of Sarus crane,
Journey where water makes its way to drain.
Sapiens use a box to filter,
Fail to realise who is the ultimate aqua filter.

Aside from landscape frames of wetland that you gaze at, there lies a complex fabric of ecology, biodiversity, hydrology, and geology when it comes to understanding a wetland. Wetlands are unparallel sponges of earth that have evolved in billions of years to function as purifiers and ground-rechargers of hydro cycles. A healthy wetland has an ample amount of native biodiversity and a well-functioning groundwater recharging mechanism that prevents both floods and drought. According to Ramsar Convention 1971, “wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary; static or flowing; fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.” Commonly, a wetland is where land and water meet either permanent or seasonally. Thus ponds, lakes, mangroves, estuaries are typically a wetland along with native flora, fauna.

Pair of Indian Spot-billed Duck, Ekana Wetland, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Courtesy: Akshat Pratap

Wetland ecosystem is the most diverse ecosystem on the planet with a wide range of flora and fauna species. From invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and migrating aves to mammals around the catchment, wetlands are home to numerous migrating birds. These birds travel miles over continents for resources, breeding, and to escape harsh climates. A key species ‘Bar-headed Goose’ flies over the Himalayas to reach wetlands of India in the region of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh for breeding. Keibul Lamjao National Park has a unique wetland known as Loktak Lake possessing an unmatched symbiosis of floating islands called Phumdis. Hence, Internationally recognised as a Floating National Park and the only habitat of Sangai deer (Brow-antlered Deer).

Wetlands provide us with multidimensional ecosystem services like flood regulation, water purifiers, livelihood, climate regulation, and recreational value. Thus, addressing the majority of our needs. Wetlands have higher carbon sequestration capacity in comparison to a rainforest. They can store 50 times more carbon. 1 acre of wetland can store 1.5 million gallons of water. Wetland also plays a vital role in nutrient cycling by filtering out organic content like phosphorus, ammonia from runoff water, and making a shelter for biodiversity out of it. Their role doesn’t end here. Wetlands can also wipe misdeeds of humans by removing 60% of heavy metal and 90% nitrogen from contaminated water. Wetlands absorb excessive fertilizer runoff and prevent eutrophication.

‘Wetland or wasteland’
Asan Conservation Reserve, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

In the era of the electric lifestyle, wetlands suffer an identity crisis. Merely considered for hydroelectric projects and irrigation facilities to monocultures. With intensifying agricultural practices and direct exposure to agricultural residue/untreated domestic, industrial waste, inevitable destruction surrounds these bodies. Deforestation in the catchment of wetland lowers its efficiency to process water. Invasive species backed by climate change are a major threat to native species of wetland, altogether they not only alter biodiversity but also create voids at the trophic level which alters the working of the whole ecosystem. Our personal interests are no way far from being a catalyst in this reaction. Soil sealing is a major concern where people cover the ground with concrete and stones with a tag of posh lifestyle which darts disasters like floods and droughts. ‘Wetland or wasteland’ mindset still blooms in the minds of people and similar actions pollute these entities in no less time.

“Coexistence is not by chance but by change.” From being listed in Montreux Record in 1993 due to heavy siltation to bagging Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award in 2002, Chilika Lake made significant improvement with the support of the government, locals, conservationists, and forest department. This depicts, with the right work plan, conservation goals can be achieved. Another extraordinary example lies where religion and wildlife exist together. Renuka Ji Wildlife Sanctuary and Ramsar Sites harbour temple of goddess Renuka Ji that calls ocean of devotees on religious occasions yet wildlife in temples surrounding sanctuary blooms in the lap of goddess Renuka, clashes do occur but what lies on the far side are the efforts and achievements.

Asan Conservation Reserve, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Conservation lies on the path of ‘eco’ not ‘ego’. What dominates unsustainable actions are myopic profits, ‘just a single tree theory’ and the inability to consider ourselves a part of nature. Designated days are not for ‘how to start conservation programs’ but rather to witness how far we’ve walked together from where we started.

Though hidden processes are hard to appreciate, pour a glass of water, sip, and appreciate the living aqua filters of earth!

Shikhar Kaushik
B.Sc. Forestry (Hons.)
College of Forestry, Ranichauri

References
https://medwet.org/
https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/wetlands-in-india-significance-threats-conservation-1466144262-1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetland?wprov=sfla1
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-is-a-wetland-and-8-other-wetland-facts