Wetland Management Issues

The exploitation of wetlands in recent past has resulted in rendering itself being a threatened ecosystem. The wetland management generally involves activities to protect, restore, manipulate, and provide for their functions and values in emphasizing "no net loss" of its quality and acreage.

The management goals involves not only buffering wetlands from direct human pressures, but also maintaining important natural processes that operate on wetlands that may be altered by human activities. This emphasize long-term sustenance of historical, natural wetland functions and their values requiring effective knowledge on a range of wetland subjects as ecology, economics, management, watershed management etc.

Mosquito control:

             Deteriorating water quality owing to pollution over time has resulted in mosquito menace. Decision-makers shortsighted approach ignores the cause and suitable remedial measures.  Instead of restoring the water quality, water is drained and converted to layouts for controlling mosquito.

Mosquitoes menace is mainly due to the poor water quality that has resulted in the absence of predators such as fish (Gambusia affinis, killifishes (Fundulus spp etc.) etc  which preys on  mosquito larvae. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is one such identified bacterium that is more specific and less toxic than Malathion [Buchsbaum, R. 1994]. An Integrated Pest Management approach involving bio-regulation is possible to control mosquitoes rather than draining wetlands.

Regular Water Quality Assessment and management provides technical hydrologic support and information/data to support programs, through:

1. On line (internet) access to regularly and continuously monitored data;
2. Technical guidance and water quality maps;
3. Case studies of water quality issues;
4. Training on water sampling and field measurements;
5. Spatial and non-spatial water quality database management systems.

            Failure to restore Wetland ecosystems will result in sharp increase in environmental costs, later in the extinction of species or ecosystem types, and in irreplaceable ecological damages. The program should also be responsible for the following tasks and activities:

1. Establish water quality standards for surface waters to protect human health, aquatic life, wildlife, and agricultural livestock; aquifer water quality standards are developed and aquifer boundaries defined to protect groundwater as a drinking water source on regional basis.
2. Conduct regular water quality monitoring, including the collection of surface water, groundwater samples and biological samples, laboratory analysis, quality assurance, data management, data analysis, and reporting information involving institutions and colleges.
3. Correct non-point source pollution problem and administer the Pollution Prevention Program through the environmental awareness programs involving educational institutions, NGO's, citizen groups etc through mass education programs.
4. Forming Interagency Task Force on Water Quality, involving institutions concerned with Wetland conservation groups and local community.

Guide lines to Wetland policy:

A comprehensive policy on wetlands needs to be formulated to enhance the quality of wetlands and increase spatial coverage specific to the region, to offer some of the most environmentally productive and cost effective opportunity for wetland conservation. The objectives should focus on addressing the following aspects [California Wetland Regulation Policy, 1993],

1. To reverse the current decline in the wetland base, ensuring 'no net loss' and long term net gain. in the quality, quantity and permanence of wetlands
2. To encourage partnerships in restoration, management, usage, and have a cooperative planning efforts with the primary focus on wetland conservation.
3. Draft procedures for administration of wetland usage and its conservation.

  The emphasis is placed on the formation of Regional Wetlands Forum, involving local educational, public and private organisations (involved in wetlands issue). For effective functioning the forum should consist researchers, school and college- students and teachers, economists, policy makers, agricultural community, development concerns, conservation organizations, state and local agencies under the collaborative efforts from the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Science and Technology, planning departments  with the following responsibilities. The policy should address,

1. Defining wetlands, classification (based on degree of saturation, type of vegetation, usage, soil etc), inventory, planning, wetland regulation, and conservation approaches (i.e., acquisition, restoration, management and education).
2. Establish regional and statewide goals to achieve long term increase in wetland acreage, functions and values in emphasizing the economic uses (fishing, agriculture, drinking water supply, etc).
3. Draft programs for preservation, conservation, restoration, and enhance wetlands acreage and provide technical and adequate funding for wetlands program.
4. In the formulation / development of consistent standards and guidelines concerning wetland water quality, mitigation and monitoring of mitigation and restoration efforts.
5. Encourage actions that promote efficiency of wetlands-related 'Permitting processes' for the various usage of wetlands for economic purposes (as fisheries, irrigation etc) by suitable policies, creation of concurrent permit review procedures.
6. Enhancing coordination of state, federal and NGO's responsible in wetland development. Action oriented restoration and conservation programs could be initiated and monitored through discussion meetings of academicians, planning and implementing agencies for providing a platform for exchange of ideas.
7. Help in the development of internal policies within state agencies as irrigation department, Public Work Department, forest department, urban development and others that encourage wetland conservation activities which are compatible with programmatic goals of flood control, ground water recharge, water management, water pollution control, recreation and others.
8. Establishment of inter-agency task force responsible for coordinating and information exchange among the agencies, boards, and departments as necessary to ensure coordinated development and implementation of wetland conservation program.
9. Integrate wetland policy and planning with other environmental and land use process.
10. Cost-benefits analysis of the wetland resources derived by the society and economic evaluation caused due to the loss of wetlands.
11. The forum could act as an advisory to the government in providing funds for wetland research and conservation programs.
12.   Formulate Wetland Protection Act as a legislative vehicle to restrict any disturbance of wetlands leading to loss in biodiversity dependent on them.