Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, yet they face several anthropogenic and climate-related threats. Discuss. What steps have been undertaken by the Government of India to conserve and promote wetlands?

Crucial in ecological balance

(1) Act as kidney of earth Eg Kolkata Wetland → water pollution (2) sponges → absorb water in case of high rainfall and release in case of low rainfall (3) Biodiversity protection Eg Birds → migrate to Keoladeo in Rajasthan (4) Ensuring ecological support cycle → Role in water cycle (5) Regulating services of wetland → Act as water divide, pollution control. (6) Provisioning services → food in form of fish ensure human-environmental balance

Threats

(A) Anthropogenic (i) Alteration of Natural Hydrological Regime (ii) Excessive extraction from Wetland → fishery. (iii) Encroachment → Bengaluru wetlands (iv) Pollution of existing wetland → Chillika lake (B) Climate Related Threats (i) Uneven Rainfall → Draining of wetlands (VI) High temperature → More evaporation → less water (VII) Wetland acidification and eutrophication (VIII) Rising Threat of Invasive species due to climate change eg Water hyacinth.

Steps Taken

(1) 85+ wetland listed under Ramsar Convention (2) National wetland Management Rules, 2017 → State level control, maintaining inventory [samarvan] (3) AMRUT Mission → for rejuvenating 100 wetland in every district (4) Atal Bhujal yojana. (5) AMRUT → for urban wetland preservation