The wetlands, as sources of water, habitats and foods for survival of innumerable species of plants and animals, are the cradles of biological diversity.
Though they cover only around 6% of the Earth’s land surface, the wetlands provide shelter and breeding grounds to 40% of all the terrestrial living organisms. Conversely, the human beings are deriving tremendous economic benefits, including water supply, fisheries, agricultural support through the maintenance of water tables and nutrient retention in floodplains, fuel sources, transportation and recreation and tourism.
The vital ecological functions the wetlands carry out include water purification and storage, storm protection and flood mitigation, shoreline stabilisation and erosion control, groundwater recharge, and withholding of nutrients and sediments. In addition, these act as sources of special religious and spiritual values serving as the basis of aesthetic and artistic inspiration, and supporting local social, economic and cultural traditions. However, they are presently disappearing three times faster than forests due to diverse human activities and global heating, which has been the cause of concern.
Experts expressed such views on the occasion of the World Wetlands Day observed by the Orissa Environmental Society (OES) on the global theme ‘Wetlands and Biodiversity’.
The programme presided over by OES president Dr Sundar Narayan Patro was attended by environment expert Dr Jaya Krushna Panigrahi as chief speaker.
Panigrahi explained how wetlands absorb CO2 to help slow down global heating and reduce pollution for which they are referred to as the ‘Kidneys of the Earth’. Out of the total of 27, 403 wetlands in India, 23,444 are inland and 3,959 are coastal wetlands. The country’s 37 wetlands have been declared as Wetlands of International Importance or Ramsar sites, while over 2,300 such sites exist around the world.
Odisha has two such nature’s wonders, Chilika Lagoon and Bhitarkanika Mangroves.
Dr Panigrahi lamented that enormous development pressure is now bringing about degradation and disappearance of wetlands and extinction of living species. The need of the hour is to undertake concerted, long-term efforts for the scientific management of the wetlands.
Among others, former FM University VC Prof Siba Prasad Adhikary laid emphasis on undertaking of intensive research on hydrology and biology of wetlands. Dr Prakash Chandra Jena and Sanjib Kumar Das narrated their experience in recently-conducted bird census in the State.
Dr Patro reminded how the OES had stimulated the Government for initiating conservation initiatives for protection of the Chilika Lake. Prof B Sitaram Patro presented a vote of thanks.