Wetlands disappearing 3 times faster than forests threatening fresh water supplies: Report 

Wetlands disappearing 3 times faster than forests threatening fresh water supplies: Report 

News:

1. Global Wetland Outlook Report highlights the alarming rates of disappearance of wetlands from the ecosystem.

Important Facts:

2. About Global Wetland Outlook Report

• It is the first-ever report released by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

3. About Ramsar Convention

• The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is the intergovernmental treaty (170 countries) and 90% of UN member states have acceded to become its “Contracting Parties”.
• It provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
• The convention entered into force in India on 1 February 1982 and India currently has 26 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of more than 6 lakh hectares.

4. About Wetlands

• Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year.
• Wetlands include lakes, rivers, marshes and peat-lands as well as coastal and marine areas such as estuaries, lagoons, mangroves and coral reefs.
• These are currently estimated to cover more than 12.1 million sq km.
• Wetlands directly or indirectly provide almost all of the world’s consumption of fresh water.
• Salt marshes, seagrass beds and mangroves also store large quantities of carbon.
• They are a vital source for food, raw materials, genetic resources for medicines, and hydro-power and play an important role in transport and tourism.
• According to an estimate, more than one billion people across the globe depend on them and 40% of the world’s species live and breed on wetlands.

5. Highlights of Global Wetland Outlook Report

• Approximately 35% of the world’s wetlands have been lost in 45 years between 1970-2015.
• Average annual rate of loss of wetlands is 0.78% a year, presenting “severe consequences” for future .
• Wetlands loss is three times faster than the average annual rate of natural forest loss between 1990-2015 at 0.24% a year threatening fresh water supplies.
• The report highlights pollution from various sources worsening the water quality with nearly all fresh water sources in the world compromised to some extent.
• More than 80% of waste water is released into wetlands without adequate treatment.
• The fertiliser use in 2018 is likely to be 25% higher than in 2008, leading to excessive wetland plant growth and levels of decomposition resulting in oxygen starvation for flora and fauna alike.
• The draining soil (soil that allows water to percolate through it reasonably quickly and not pool) for farming and development poses a climate threat to the dark swampy peatlands of the tropics.

6. Reasons for loss of wetlands

• Mega trends: Climate change, Population increase, Urbanisation (particularly of coastal zones and river deltas).
• Changing consumption patterns: These have fuelled changes to land and water use and to agriculture.

7. India’s Case:

• The report underlines Supreme Court’s response to a public interest lawsuit in 2017 wherein it ordered to prepare a national inventory of almost 2,00,000 wetlands.
• India had notified new rules to protect wetlands, decentralising its management by giving states powers to not only identify and notify wetlands within their respective jurisdictions but also keep watch on prohibited activities.

8. Way forward:

• The Global Wetland Outlook is a wake-up call not only on the steep rate of loss of the world’s wetlands but also on the critical services they provide.
• Without them, the global agenda on sustainable development will not be achieved.
• Effective wetland management should be included as part of overall national sustainable development plans.
• Urgent collective action to reverse trends on wetland loss and degradation, and secure both the future of wetlands and our own at the same time.
• Restoring peatlands should be seen as an effective measure to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to live up to commitments made under the Paris Climate Accords.