Lake 2000 - A three day symposium aimed at bringing out the current trends in lakes and wetlands restoration including hydrological and biophysical aspects, people's participation and the role of non-governmental, educational and governmental organisations and future research needs for the restoration, conservation and management of wetlands. This also provided a forum for researchers, technologists, economists, sociologists and others to meet and discuss water related issues.
Based on presentations and discussions at the Symposium, the following recommendations are unanimously proposed:
RECOMMENDATION-1:
The integration of different Government Agencies for effective implementation of activities related to restoration of wetlands, their sustainable utilization and conservation.
RECOMMENDATION-2:
A National Committee for reclamation, restoration and development of lakes and wetlands be formed to formulate a National Policy to evolve strategies for sustainable utilization and conservation. (Funds be made available from National & International sources to the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, to proceed with the restoration of the lakes in collaboration with National & International Organizations in view of the importance of lakes and wetlands in rural development).
RECOMMENDATION-3:
A Comprehensive Plan be prepared to study selective, representative wetlands in a phased manner to create a database with regard to their present status, sustainable use, management and conservation; and to formulate strategies for their long term management in rural and urban areas. Regular monitoring of ecosystems through the involvement of schools, colleges & universities to be taken up. (For this purpose, funds to be made available to Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore to implement the proposal in collaboration with National and International Organizations).
RECOMMENDATION-4:
A Comprehensive Action Plan be chalked out immediately for taking care of health, disease and quarantine aspects of the aquatic biota. The aspects assume importance in view of the still persisting virulent disease like Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) among the freshwater fishes of India. A National Committee to be formed to tackle such health and disease problems among the aquatic biota.
RECOMMENDATION-5:
India being a mega diversity region, with hotspots in the Western Ghats and North-Eastern regions, a comprehensive action plan be chalked out to study the aquatic biodiversity of the inland water bodies of the nation; and the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) be entrusted to co-ordinate collaboration at National and International levels.
RECOMMENDATION-6:
Mass awareness programmes be chalked out and implemented through Governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's) for recognition of the importance of the lakes, wetlands and rivers, and their role in the sustenance of human civilization and the aquatic biodiversity; and CES be entrusted to co-ordinate collaboration of Governmental and Non Governmental Organization at National and International levels.
RECOMMENDATION-7:
Lakes and ponds in each Zilla Panchayath area be identified and their streams recharged through people's participation. People to be made aware of their significance so that reclamation and conservation of these water bodies can be effective.
RECOMMENDATION-8:
Temporary ponds be identified and their diversity explored to delineate their contribution to the society and biosphere.
RECOMMENDATION-9:
A people's watchdog team to be set up to stop the dumping of wastes into water bodies and the catchment area protection. Public needs to be educated about the importance of clean water for better health. Steps to be taken to improve the aesthetic sense among them, which will help protect the lakes.
RECOMMENDATION-10:
Fishermen's socio-economic aspects to be taken into consideration while formulating wetland policies.
RECOMMENDATION-11:
Students involvement including curriculum development concerning the protection of the ecosystem.
RECOMMENDATION-12:
Ownership and the legal status of lakes be properly defined.
RECOMMENDATION-13:
Easy access be provided for scientists and students to investigate the status of wetlands in protected areas. Free access of data, Survey of India - toposheets, along with GIS and remote sensing data to be made available.
RECOMMENDATION-14:
Introduction of exotic fishes into lakes be permitted only after clearance from fishery experts.
RECOMMENDATION-15:
Participants strongly felt that the public needs to be better informed about the rationale, goals and methods of aquatic ecosystem restorations. In addition, the need was felt for scientists and researchers with the broad training needed for aquatic ecosystem restoration, management and conservation. In this regard, Lake 2000 recommends:
Public education and outreach should be components of aquatic ecosystem restoration. Lake associations and citizen monitoring groups have proved helpful in educating the general public. Effort should be made to ensure that such groups have accurate information about the causes of lake degradation and various restoration methods.
Funding is needed for both undergraduate and graduate programmes in aquatic ecosystem restorations. Training programmes should cross-traditional disciplinary boundaries such as those between basic and applied ecology: between water quality management and fisheries or wildlife management: among lakes, streams, river, coastal wetlands and wetland ecology.
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Organizing three to four week training course on "Integrated watershed management with emphasis on restoration of lakes and wetlands in the year 2001. Training modules include aspects of
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Limnology of lakes, reservoirs and wetlands.
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Coastal wetlands.
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Watershed hydrology/Urban hydrology.
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Ground water and hydrogeology.
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Monitoring and modeling.
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Restoration methodologies and conservation strategies.
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Remediation measures.
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Integrated management of water quality and quantity with ecosystem protection.
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Land use, urban planning, Geographic Information System, Remote sensing.
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Sustainable water resources management and water resources policy.
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Organizing an International Symposium in November/December 2002 to prioritise research needs for the restoration conservation and management of wetlands.
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RECOMMENDATION-16:
The Central and State Governments should support research and development, watershed-scale restorations that integrate lake, stream and wetland components. State agencies, Non-Governmental organizations and university researchers should participate in planning, implementing and evaluating restoration projects. In addition, an inter-agency programme under Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) could be formed to co-ordinate the selection, planning and evaluation of these pilot-projects. The research and implementation of the projects could be managed by the participating agencies.
RECOMMENDATION-17:
Goals for restoration of lakes be realistic and be based on the concept of expected conditions for individual eco-regions. Further development of project selection and evaluation technology based on eco-region definitions and description should be encouraged and supported by the central and state government agencies.
Research and development are needed in several areas of applied limnology, and such programmes should take an experimental approach, which emphasise manipulation of whole ecosystems.
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Improved techniques for littoral zone and aquatic microphytes management need to be developed. Research should go beyond the removal of nuisance microphytes to address the restoration of native species that are essential for waterfowl and fish habitat. Basic research is necessary to improve understanding of fundamental limnological processes in littoral zones and the interactions between littoral and pelagic zones of lakes.
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Biomanipulation (foodweb management) has great potential for low-cost and long-term management of lakes, and research in this emerging field must be stimulated.
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Innovative and low-cost approaches to contaminant clean up in lakes need to be developed.
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The relations between loadings of stress-causing substances and responses of lakes need to be understood more precisely. Research should be undertaken to improve predictions of trophic state and nutrient loading relationships.
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Improved assessment programmes are needed to determine the severity and extent of damage in lakes and wetlands and a change in status over time. Innovative basic research is required to improve the science of assessment and monitoring. There is a great need for cost effective, reliable indicators of ecosystems function, including those that would reflect long-term change and response to stress conditions. Research on indicators should include traditional community and ecosystem measurements, paleoecological trend assessments and remote sensing. Effective assessment and monitoring programme would involve network of local schools, colleges and universities.
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Procedures such as food web manipulation, introduction of phytophagous, insects and fish lining, and reintroduction of native species show promise for effective and long-lasting results when used alone or in combination with other restoration measures. Further research and development need to be undertaken on these aspects.
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Paleolimnological approaches should be used to infer the past trophic history of lakes and wetlands and to decide whether these systems should be restored. Paleolimnological approaches also could be used to infer whether a lake has been restored to its pre disturbed condition.
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Wetland Policy Guidelines:
The objective of policy with respect to wetland conservation is: "TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF WETLANDS TO SUSTAIN THEIR ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMICAL FUNCTIONS, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE". Towards this end, the goals are,
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Maintenance of the functions and values derived from wetlands;
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No net loss of wetland functions on regional lands and water;
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Enhancement and rehabilitation of wetlands where the continued loss or degradation of wetlands or their functions have reached critical levels;
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Recognition of wetland functions in resource planning, management and economic decision making with regard to all national/state programmes, policies and activities;
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Securing wetlands of significance;
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Recognition of sound, sustainable management practices in sectors such as forestry and agriculture that make a positive contribution to wetland conservation while also achieving wise use of wetland resources;
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Utilisation of wetlands in a manner that enhances prospects;
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The proposed strategies in this regard are:
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Developing public awareness.
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Managing wetlands on State lands and water, and in other State programmes.
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Promote the wetland conservation in State protected areas.
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Enhancing co-operation among State, District, Regional and Non Government partners.
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Conserving wetlands of significance.
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Ensuring a sound scientific basis for policy.
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The wetland policy at State level provides:
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A signal of commitment to wetland conservation and adds as a catalyst for mutually supporting action across the region;
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A heightened profile for the issue to call attention to wetland, socio-economic and environmental benefits, to ensure that wetlands receive adequate consideration by the State government;
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Direction and support for individual decision makers to ensure that opportunity for the sustained wise use of wetlands is realised, to avoid or reserve wetland related conflicts;
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Clarification of specific State responsibility for wetlands, as well as a synthesis of existing legislation, policies and programmes which already contribute to wetland conservation;
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A consistent, co-ordinated approach among the many State agencies, which influence wetlands, aimed at adjusting activities which conflict with wetland conservation and ensuring progress towards specific objectives and goals.
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A comprehensive policy on wetlands needs to be formulated to enhance the quality and increase spatial coverage specific to the region, to offer some of the most environmentally productive and cost effective opportunities for wetland conservation. The objectives should focus on addressing the following aspects,
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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.
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To encourage partnerships in restoration, management, usage, through co-operative planning efforts with the primary focus on wetland conservation.
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Draft procedures for administration of wetland usage and its conservation.
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The emphasis is placed on the formation of Regional Wetlands Forum, involving local educational, public and private organizations (involved in wetland issue). For effective functioning, the forum should consist researchers, school and college-students and teachers, economists, policy makers, representatives from agricultural community, developmental concerns, conservation organizations, state and local agencies under the collaboration of the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Science and Technology, Indian Council for Agricultural Research and planning departments with the following responsibilities. The policy should address the following:
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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).
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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).
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Draft programs for preservation, conservation, restoration, and enhance wetlands acreage (spatial spread) and provide technical and adequate funding for wetlands program.
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In the formulation/development of consistent standards and guidelines concerning wetland water quality, mitigation and monitoring of mitigation and restoration efforts.
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Encourage actions that promote efficiency of wetlands-related 'Permitting processes' for the varied usage of wetlands for economic purposes (as fisheries, irrigation etc) by suitable policies and creation of concurrent permit review procedures.
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Enhancing co-ordination of governmental (state, federal) and non-governmental organizations 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.
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Help in the development of internal policies within state agencies like irrigation departments, public works department, forest department, urban development and others that will encourage wetland conservation activities which are compatible with goals of flood control, ground water recharge, water management, water pollution control, recreation and others.
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Establishment of inter-agency task force responsible for co-ordinating and information exchange among the agencies, boards, and departments as necessary to ensure co-ordinated development and implementation of wetland conservation program.
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Integrate wetland policy and planning with other environmental and land use processes.
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Cost-benefit analysis of the wetland resources derived by the society and economic evaluation caused due to the loss of wetlands.
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The forum could act as an advisory to the government in providing funds for wetland research and conservation programs.
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Formulate Wetland Protection Act as a legislative vehicle to restrict any disturbance of wetlands leading to loss in biodiversity dependent on them.
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Comments & suggestions to:
Dr. T.V. Ramachandra
Energy and Wetlands Research Group
Centre for Ecological Sciences
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560 012, INDIA
Tel: 91-80-3600985 / 3092506
Fax: 91-80-3601428 / 3600085 / 3600683 [CES-TVR]
Email: cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in
Cestvr@hamsadvani.serc.iisc.ernet.in
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