Research Article | Published: 01 March 1998

Degradation of Indian wetlands and rehabilitation options

N. K. Srivastava and R. S. Ambasht

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 21 | Issue: 1 | Page No. 38-41 | 1998
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-1998-68H260 | Cite this article

Abstract

Wetlands are wide ranging natural and man-made, permanent, temporary or seasonal waterbodies or water saturated lands, lentic or lotic, fresh, brackish or saline waters (Ramsar). They have profound ecolog­ical and economic importance. In India, wetlands, both natural and man-made of different morphometries and sizes are very common everywhere, more so in the states of Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The burgeoning human population, rapid industrialization, urbanization, expanding agricul­ture, landfills by garbage, effluent discharges are responsible for degradation of wetlands. Tremendous efforts by the Indian Ministry of Environment (Wetland Unit), Indian Ramsar, Indian Unit of World-wide Fund for Nature Conservation, are underway in identifying the wetlands of national importance, their conserva­tion and management.

Innovative studies on the wetlands and their margins in Surha (listed as of National Importance) lake and rivers, Rihand and Ganga have been made. Quantitative capabilities of marginal vegetation as ‘filters’ or ‘checks’ for soil, water and chemicals and as heavy metal harvesters have been evaluated. Rehabilitation options are discussed.

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How to cite

Srivastava, N.K. and Ambasht, R.S., 1998. Degradation of Indian wetlands and rehabilitation options. Indian Journal of Forestry, 21(1), pp.38-41. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-1998-68H260

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 March 1998

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