[Model Answer Mrunal] UPSC GSM3-2018/Q7: Ramsar “Wise use” Concept for wetland conservation (150 words, 10 marks)

Question for UPSC Mains-GS3

Q. What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India. (150 words, 10 marks, asked in UPSC Mains-2018)

आन्द्रभूमि क्या है ? आंद्रभूमि संरक्षण के संदर्भ में ‘बुद्धिमत्तापूर्ण उपयोग’ की रामसर संकल्पना को स्पष्ट कीजिए । भारत से रामसर स्थलो के दो उदाहरणो का उद्रण दीजिए।

Relevance to Syllabus of UPSC GSM3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Introduction: Define Wetland

Wetlands are ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They get periodically get inundated with water. They support a flourishing community of aquatic organisms including frogs and other amphibians. Swamps, marshes and mangroves are examples of wetlands. (Definition from NIOS) OR
Wetlands include a wide variety of habitats such as marshes, peatlands, floodplains, rivers and lakes, and coastal areas such as saltmarshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds, also coral reefs and other marine areas no deeper than six metres at low tide. Wetland also includes human-made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs. (Definition from Ramsar Convention Agreement.)

Body-1: “Wise use concept” of Wetland conservation

Ramsar “Wise use concept” requires that wetlands’ ecological character should be maintained within the framework of sustainable development. This concept recognizes that:

Developmental activities are inevitable in wetland areas such as construction of roads, electricity infrastructure, schools and hospitals for poor families.
Economic activities are also inevitable in wetland areas such as fisheries, farming and tourism.
Such activities aid in human development and economic development in a wetland area.
And for these activities, wetland’s land, water and bio-resources will have to be used.
However, these resources should not be used in a manner that wetland’s ecological character is harmed.

The practical applications of “Wise Use” concept are as following:

Use of Water: Farmers in wetland region require freshwater for cultivation of paddy, fruits and vegetables. But, it should not lead to overexploitation of freshwater else wetland’s regenerative capacity will suffer. Fish, reptiles and amphibians will die. Therefore, Government may impose legal ‘upper limits / ceiling’ on water use.
Use of Land: Wetlands purify air and water, they moderate adverse weather impacts and thus protect human health. However, mining, infrastructure and transportation services harm wetlands, and thereby indirectly harm human health. Hence, the ‘land’ of wetland should be generally not used for such activities.
Use of Biomass: Fishing is one of the primary occupation of people in Wetland area. But excessive fishing, especially during reproduction season will harm wetland’s foodweb. Hence, government may impose restriction and encourage aquaculture and ‘rice-fish’ management practices.

“Wise use” is a bolbachchan Liberal Arts like Agreement without any concrete bullet points in serial number. Difficult to memorize and reproduce in real exam. So just elaborate the few things with your own ‘made-up’ examples to fill the word limit- just like how I’ve done above.

Body-2: Ramsar Sites in India

Ramsar convention entered into force in India in the early 80s. [1 February 1982 to be precise].
India currently has 26 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites). [For this question, you’ve to mention any two, and read the remaining 24 for next prelims!]

Site	State	Significance
Ashtamudi Wetland	Kerala	Fifth largest site in India, 2nd largest in Kerala
Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Orissa	The site’s Gahirmatha beach is said to host the largest known Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting beach in the world. highest density of saltwater crocodile in the country. Higher mangrove biodiversity than Sundarbans
Bhoj Wetland	Madhya Pradesh	Kolans river passes through
Chandertal Wetland	Himachal Pradesh	Snow leopart, Red Fox found.
Chilika Lake	Orissa	Saltwater lake. Irrawaddy dolphins found
Deepor Beel	Assam	Suffers from infestation by water hyacinth
East Calcutta Wetlands	West Bengal	It uses city’s waste water and utilizing the treated water for pisciculture and agriculture.
Harike Lake & Bird sanctury	Punjab	Migratory ducks, geese, swans
Hokera Wetland	J&K	Waterfowl bird species
Kanjli	Punjab	Kali Bein stream associated with Guru Nanak Saheb
Keoladeo National Park	Rajasthan	Also a bird sanctury here. invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum negatively affected Siberian Cranes.
Kolleru Lake	Andhra	Natural Eutrophic Lake between Godavari and Krishna rivers.
Loktak Lake	Manipur	Infestation of water hyacinth
Nalsarovar lake and Bird Sanctury	Gujarat	Lapwing, Sarus Crane bird, Wild ass
Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu	Greater and Lesser Flamingos
Pong Dam Lake	Himachal Pradesh	Dam on Beas river
Renuka Wetland	Himachal Pradesh	Area wise smallest. Giri river. Renuka was Hindu sage Parshuram’s mother.
Ropar	Punjab	Humanmade wetland using Sutlej River
Rudrasagar Lake	Tripura	Gomti river. IUCN redlisted Three-striped Roof Turtle Kachuga dhongka.
Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan	Saline Lake. Flamingos
Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala	Largest freshwater lake of Kerala. a larva called “cavaborus” abounds and eliminates bacteria in the water, hence water is exceptionally pure
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes	Jammu, Kashmir State	Rainfed without permanent discharge. Fishing is discouragd due to Hindu significance from Mahabharat period.
Tsomoriri	Eastern Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir	the only breeding ground outside of China for Black necked crane. Tibetan wildass also found. Korzok Buddhist monastery.
Upper Ganga River	Uttar Pradesh	IUCN Red listed Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial, Crocodile
Vembanad-Kol Wetland	Kerala State	Area wise largest
Wular Lake	Jammu & Kashmir State	Largest freshwater lake of India.

Conclusion: Summerize

(1) Wetland conservation is crucial for protecting biodiversity and mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change.
(2) At the same time, due to high level of poverty & population, it’s not possible for developing countries & Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to keep wetlands in pristine conditions completely free from human activities.
The “wise use” concept of Ramsar convention is a notable attempt made to strike balance between these two opposing aspects.

Afterthoughts / Mistakes / Pitfalls

Ramsar was signed long before the SDG goals. So, Although SDG Goal #15 requires protection of terrestrial ecosystems including Wetlands but it’ll be a poor conclusion that “…To achieve SDG goals we must abide by Ramsar wise use.”
Avoid negative tone that “In India “wise use concept” is not implemented in letter and spirit. Wetlands are destroyed by illegal mining and timber mafia.” You’re asked to explain ‘wise use concept’, not asked to “critically examine India’s compliance with it.”
Digressing into a long essay on how climate change, global warming and population growth harms the Wetlands. or How Wetlands is important for biodiversity conservation. Just stick to the premise of the question that is “wise use of Wetland resources (land, water, air, biomass, fishes, timber etc.)”