Negative impacts Of Wetlands

M.Phil ist semester To Dr Ahmad Hussain

Definition
Generally, wetlands are lands where saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface (Cowardin, December 1979). Land where an excess of water is the dominent factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of animals and plant communities living at the soil surface

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Ramsar Convention is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem. The treaty was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and the Convention's member countries cover all geographic regions of the planet.

The Ramsar mission

The Convention's mission is "the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world". The Convention uses a broad definition of the types of wetlands covered in its mission, including lakes and rivers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands and peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, near-shore marine areas, mangroves and coral reefs, and human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs.

Human impacts on wetlands

Changes in water chemistry Pollution Habitat changes Introduced fish Barriers to movement Introduced plants

Drainage Stream channelization Deposition of fill material Land use Logging Construction of dams. Sedimentation control agriculture Grazing by domestic animals Recreational activities

Human Impacts

Cont. .. .
water pollution Fishries intensives Release of toxic chemicals Lack of institutional setup

Negative impacts of wetlands

Loss or degradation of wetland habitat and a loss of plant and animal biological diversity Deterioration of wetland water quality Reduction in water supply and water storage Increased occurrence of algae blooms caused by nutrient overload from land adjacent to a wetland Increased sedimentation, which negatively impacts natural filtration Loss of flood plain land and flood plain protection

Natural Impacts
Erosion Subsidence Sea level rise Droughts Hurricanes and other large storms