Need water? Save wetlands

The State government must make optimal use of funds for wetlands
conservation, if it is serious about saving its wetlands, S. Kaul,
Director of wetlands division of the Union Ministry of Environments
and Forests, has said. Delay in execution of the Management Action
Plan (MAP) for wetlands would harm Kerala, he added. Dr. Kaul, who is
striving to create awareness in the government on the link between
wetlands and water availability, was in Kozhikode recently to attend a
national seminar on "threats to wetlands" organised by the Centre for
Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM).
Ramsar sites
India, which is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, has
25 "Ramsar sites." Three lakes in Kerala, Vembanad, Ashtamudi and
Sasthamcotta have also been adjudged Ramsar sites. Ramsar sites have
to follow strict international guidelines for wetland conservation and
contravention of it places the Ramsar site under the Montreal Protocol
and results in heavy international pressure on the country to put its
act in order. India now has three sites under the Montreal Protocol.
Recognising the need for a strong institutional mechanism to monitor
wetlands, a steering committee was formed in all States. However MAPs
drawn up by some committees were shoddy and the Ministry is allocating
funds for States to take the help of consultancies. In all, 115
wetlands have been categorised into A, B and C. Category-A wetlands
are monitored by the Union government and they are usually
high-altitude wetlands or trans-boundary wetlands. Category-B wetlands
are under the control of the State government while Category-C is
managed by the district administration.
'Public must chip in'
"The involvement of local communities will complete the circle," Dr.
Kaul says. "Most have pressing needs for which they are tempted to
exploit a wetland. But, communities step in whole-heartedly for
conservation efforts when they are convinced of the reason."
The Hindu, July 16