FEBRUARY FREE REPORT: World Wetland Day 2023

Everyone of us must have known that February 2^nd is celebrated as World Wetlands Day as this day marks adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The aim of this day is to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty with 169 Contracting Parties, provides a ready platform for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and to contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement ambition and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The theme for previous years were: Wetlands Action for People and Nature 2022, Wetlands and Water 2021, Wetlands and Biodiversity – 2020, Wetlands and Climate Change 2019, Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future- 2018, Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction- 2017, Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods- 2016, Wetlands for our Future- 2015, Wetlands and agriculture- 2014, Wetlands and water management- 2013, Wetlands and tourism-2012 and Wetlands and forests -2011.

And the theme for the World Wetland Day 2023 is Wetland Restoration highlighting the crucial role that wetlands play in managing water resources. Wetlands serve as natural water purifiers, reducing the levels of pollutants in water and recharging groundwater supplies. They also act as natural sponges, helping to control floods and droughts by storing and releasing water during times of need. Despite their multihued benefits, wetlands are being lost at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic activities such as urbanization, agriculture, and resource extraction. The destruction of wetlands results in negative impacts on water quality, water quantity, and wildlife habitat. It also contributes to climate change by releasing carbon stored in the wetland soil into the atmosphere.

A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or temporarily, such that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil. Ramsar international wetland conservation treaty defines wetland as:

Article 1.1: "wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres."

Article 2.1: "wetlands may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide lying within the wetlands." The hydrogeomorphic (HGM) includes five major wetland types: riverine, slope depressional, flat and fringe; Marshes, Swamps, Bogs, Fens.

Importance of Wetlands:

Wetlands protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality. Wetlands have a great importance in conservation of biodiversity and genetic resources. It has following noted ecological functions: purification of water, ground water recharge, nutrient retention, ecosystem maintenance, storage of water, minimization of flood and erosion. Various economic activities such as fishing, irrigation, religious and cultural are also dependent in wetlands.  Wetlands and riparian zones reduce nonpoint source pollution by filtering out of solution NPS-related contaminants such as phosphorus and nitrogen.  The ability of wetlands and riparian zones to perform this function is determined by the vegetative composition, geochemistry, and faunal species composition.  Any changes to these characteristics could affect filtering capacities. The ability of a wetland to act as a sink for phosphorus and the ability to convert nitrate to nitrogen gas through denitrification are two most important examples of the important functions performed by wetlands.

 Wetlands are the most suited places for migratory birds for resting, feeding, breeding or nesting grounds for some time. Freshwater wetlands hold more than 40% of the world's species and 12% of all animal species. It is estimated that over 20,000 medicinal plant species are currently in use, some of them from wetlands, and over 80% of the world's population depend on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs.

Nepal and Wetlands:

Nepal is a rich country in terms of water and wetland resources. Wetland covers about 743, 500 hectares of areas which is nearly 5% of the area of the country. The terai part consist of largest number of wetlands i.e. 163 followed by hills and mountains i.e. 72. Nepal is blessed with 20 types of wetland among the 27 recognized wetland types. Some of the famous ramsar site ( wetland in Nepali) are Koshi Tappu in Sunsari, Beeshazari in Chitwan, Ghodaghodi in Kailali, Gokyo in Solukhumbu, Gosaikunda in Rasuwa, Jagadishpur in Kapilbastu, Maipokhari in Illam, Phoksundo in Dolpa and Rara Lake in Mugu.

Conclusion:

Our activities are causing great impact on the normal functioning of the wetlands that includes   hydrological alteration of wetlands, industrialization, mining, atmospheric pollutant deposition, agriculture, timber harvest, urbanization, encroachment/landfill and many more. Political instability and weak legislative actions are also being a major threats to wetlands of Nepal. Such alterations can affect the ability of the wetland or riparian area to act as a filter for excess sedimentation and nutrients, which can result in deteriorated surface water quality. Ultimately, it causes wetland pollution and loss in the biodiversity.

Wetlands need to be conserved for the better environment and life. Some ways to protect our wetland from pollution cab be as follows: protection and restoration of existing wetlands and riparian areas and engineered vegetation treatment systems.  We can also work by reestablishing previous hydrologic dynamics, vegetation, and structural characteristics. We can maintain the water quality benefits of wetlands and riparian areas and to ensure that they do not in turn become a source of nonpoint pollution due to degradation. Vegetated filter strips can be used to remove sediment and other pollutants from runoff and wastewater by filtration, deposition, infiltration, absorption, adsorption, decomposition, and volatilization, thereby reducing the amount of pollution entering adjacent water bodies.