New Assessment Highlights Role of Wetlands in National Biodiversity Strategies

General Studies Paper-3

Context: A recent assessment by an organisation commissioned by Wetlands International, highlighted the critical importance of wetlands in the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) submitted after the COP15.

About

• It provides insights into how effectively the wetlands have been incorporated into NBSAPs worldwide.
• It aims to highlight the crucial role that wetland conservation and restoration play in the successful implementation of the Global Biodiversity Plan.

Major Findings

• The assessment includes 24 NBSAPs from around the world, representing 12 per cent of the 196 countries that are parties to the Convention on Biodiversity.
• 83 percent of the submitted NBSAPs explicitly mention wetlands, inland waters or freshwater in their targets.
• 71 percent of the plans articulate specific measures for restoration (Target 2) and 50 percent include protection for these important ecosystems (Target 3).
• Fewer NBSAPs provide specific, measurable targets, indicating a need for improvement in those areas.
• 16 NBSAPs mentioned specific wetland types, including mangroves, rivers, lakes and peatlands.
• Among these, mangroves, rivers and lakes received the highest mentions, indicating their importance in various environmental targets.
• Recommendation: The report emphasised the need for countries to enhance the integration of wetlands within national biodiversity targets, establishing clear, measurable goals for wetland restoration and protection.
• The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
• GBF was adopted by the COP15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022.
• It has been promoted as a “Paris Agreement for Nature”.
• The GBF contains 4 global goals and 23 targets.
• Among the twenty-three targets to be achieved by 2030 include halving the introduction of invasive species, and $500 billion/year reduction in harmful subsidies.
• “Target 3” is especially referred to as the “30X30” target.
• ’30X30′ target
• Under it, delegates committed to protecting 30% of land and 30% of coastal and marine areas by 2030, fulfilling the deal’s highest-profile goal, known as 30-by-30.
• The deal also aspires to restore 30% of degraded lands and waters throughout the decade, up from an earlier aim of 20%.
• Also, the world will strive to prevent destroying intact landscapes and areas with a lot of species, bringing those losses “close to zero by 2030”.

What is a Wetland?

• A wetland is an ecosystem in which the land is covered by water—salt, fresh, or somewhere in between—either seasonally or permanently. It functions as its own distinct ecosystem.
• It includes water bodies such as lakes, rivers, underground aquifers, swamps, wet grasslands, peatlands, deltas, tidal flats, mangroves, coral reefs, and other coastal areas as well.
• These wetlands can be classified into three segments such as inland wetlands, coastal wetlands, and human-made wetlands.

Wetlands in India

• India includes high-altitude wetlands of the Himalayas, floodplains of rivers such as Ganges and Brahmaputra, lagoons and mangrove marshes on the coastline, and reefs in marine environments.
• India has around 4.6% of its land as wetlands, 85 Wetlands of India covering are under the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
• Presently, India stands first in South Asia and third in Asia in terms of number of designated sites.

Importance of Wetlands

• Biodiversity Hotspots: Wetlands are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, supporting a wide variety of plant and animal species.
• Water Filtration and Purification: Wetlands act as natural filters, trapping and removing pollutants and sediments from water.
• Flood Control and Water Regulation: Wetlands function as natural buffers against floods by absorbing and slowing down excess water during heavy rainfall or storm events.
• Carbon Sequestration: The waterlogged conditions in wetlands slow down the decomposition of organic matter, leading to the accumulation of carbon in the soil.
• Economic Benefits: Wetlands support various economic activities, including fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. They provide valuable resources for local communities and contribute to the overall economy.

Threats to Wetlands

• Urbanization: Wetlands near urban centres are under increasing developmental pressure for residential, industrial and commercial facilities.
• Agricultural activities: Following the Green Revolution of the 1970s, vast stretches of wetlands have been converted to paddy fields.
• Deforestation: Removal of vegetation in the catchment leads to soil erosion and siltation.
• Pollution: Unrestricted dumping of sewage and toxic chemicals from industries has polluted many freshwater wetlands.
• Aquaculture: Demand for shrimps and fishes has provided economic incentives to convert wetlands and mangrove forests to develop pisciculture and aquaculture ponds.
• Introduced species: Indian wetlands are threatened by exotic introduced plant species such as water hyacinth and salvinia.
• Climate change: Increased air temperature; shifts in precipitation; increased frequency of storms, floods; and sea level rise also affect wetlands.
• Drought: Prolonged dry periods lead to reduced water levels in wetlands, impacting their ecological functions and the species that depend on them.

Conclusion

• Conserving and properly managing wetlands is crucial to maintaining the ecological functions and ensuring the continued provision of the services they offer to both the environment and society.