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A wetland is an area where the land is either seasonally or permanently submerged in water, which can be salty, fresh, or brackish. 

• It serves as a unique ecosystem, distinguishable from other landscapes or water bodies by the specialized vegetation that thrives in the wet soil.

Importance Of Wetlands: Water Quality, Flood Control

• Water Quality: Wetlands naturally purify water by filtering sediment and absorbing pollutants, enhancing both surface and groundwater quality.
• Reduction of Coastal Storm Damage: Coastal wetlands, like mangrove forests and salt marshes, mitigate the impacts of storms by reducing flooding, coastal erosion, and property damage.
• Flood Control: Wetlands along rivers and streams absorb and store water during storms, reducing downstream flooding and maintaining streamflow during droughts.
• Erosion Control: Vegetation in wetlands stabilizes streambanks, preventing erosion and reducing sedimentation downstream.
• Wildlife Habitat: Wetlands provide essential habitats for a wide variety of species, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and particularly migratory birds. 

• Approximately one-third of all U.S. threatened and endangered species depend on wetlands for survival.

• Ecosystem Productivity: Certain wetlands are highly productive ecosystems, producing large amounts of plant material and supporting diverse wildlife populations.

Challenges Of Wetlands: Causes Of Destruction, Industrial Effluents

• Loss of Wetlands: Humans are destroying wetlands; approximately 35% have disappeared since the 1970s, and 87% since the 1700s.
• Causes of Destruction: Multiple drivers contribute to wetland loss, including drainage and infilling for agriculture and construction, pollution, overexploitation (such as overfishing), invasive species, and climate change.
• Impact on Biodiversity: The destruction of wetlands leads to a significant decline in biodiversity, which is a crucial part of the global nature emergency.
• Extinction Crisis: Species are declining faster than at any point in human history, with wetland species being the most affected; one million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction, exacerbated by climate change.

• Between 1970 and 2014, populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles decreased by 60%.

• Industrial Effluents: Untreated industrial discharges, such as those in Bellandur Lake, have become a major threat to wetlands.

–        Only 31% of domestic wastewater in Indian urban centers is treated, compared to 80% in developed countries.

WAY FORWARD

• Use of Advanced Technology: The dynamic nature of wetlands necessitates the widespread and consistent use of satellite-based remote sensors and affordable GIS tools for effective management and monitoring.
• Collaboration Among Experts: Effective collaborations among academicians and professionals, including ecologists, watershed management specialists, planners, and decision-makers, are crucial for the overall management of wetlands.
• Inclusion in Mega Urban Schemes: Mega urban schemes like the Smart Cities Mission and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation should incorporate the aspects of sustainable management of wetlands.
• Need for Scientific Data and Tools: There is a need for more scientific data, imagery, maps, and other relevant tools to provide knowledge on the status of wetlands.
• Integration into Development Policies: Mainstreaming wetlands ecosystem services and biodiversity into developmental policies and urban planning processes, including climate change mitigation, is crucial.

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