Wetlands

The mangroves in India have reduced by half in the last 10 years. Further, 70 to 80 per cent of fresh water marshes and lakes in the Gangetic plains have been lost in the last 50 years.Several human activities threaten wetlands - agriculture, provision of irrigation systems, reallocation of land for urban and forest use. Construction of transport systems and pollution from boats, sewage, pesticides, fertilisers and industrial effluents are some of the major problems.

India has signed the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention of Biological Diversity. Legislative measures are abundant, but conservation and management programs must now be implemented.