Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T05:42:14.243Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Processes of wetland loss in India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2009

A. Lee Foote ,
Sanjeeva Pandey  and
Naomi T. Krogman
A. Lee Foote*
Affiliation:
US National Biological Service, 700 Cajundome Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, USA; ([email protected])
Sanjeeva Pandey
Affiliation:
Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box 18, Chandrabani, 248 001INDIA; ([email protected])
Naomi T. Krogman
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana 70504, USA; ([email protected])
*
Dr A. Lee Foote Tel: +1 318 266 8667 Fax: +1 318 266 8513 e-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Wetlands in India supply crucial human and animal needs such as drinking water, protein production, fodder, water purification, wildlife habitat, and flood storage. Increased appreciation of uses and threats is essential to protect wetlands where justified. Three quarters of India's population is rural, it places great demands on India's wetlands and losses continue to occur. This paper is based on extensive discussions with natural resource managers, government employees, farmers, academicians, and resource users at dozens of sites in India, as well as an extensive literature search. Twelve important kinds of wetland loss are identified and mechanisms believed to be causing them discussed: (1) agricultural conversion, (2) direct deforestation, (3) hydrologie alteration, (4) inundation, (5) defoliation, (6) altered upper watersheds, (7) accumulative water demands, (8) water quality degradation, (9) wetland consolidation, (10) global climate change, (11) ground-water depletion, (12) exotic species and biodiversity. Wetland understanding, management, and Public awareness in India must continue growing if wetland resources are to remain functional.

Keywords

IndiaWetlandHabitat DegradationCausesSustainability
Type
Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , March 1996 , pp. 45 - 54
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abrol, A.P., Yadav, J.S.D. & Massoud, F.I. (1988) Salt-affected soils and their management. FAO Soils Bulletin 39: 131 pp.Google Scholar
Adams, W.A. & Akhtar, N. (1994) The possible consequences for herbage growth of waterlogging compacted pasture soils. Plant and Soil 162: 1–17.Google Scholar
Agarwal, B. (1992) Rural women, poverty and natural resources: sustenance sustainability and struggle for change. In: Poverty in India – research and policy, ed. Harriss, B., Guhan, S. & Cassen, R., pp. 390–432. Delhi: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Ahmad, N. (1980) Some aspects of economic resources of Sunderban mangrove forests of Bangladesh. (abstract). In: Mangrove environment: research and management, ed. Soepadmo, P., pp. 50–1. Report of UNESCO Asian Symposium, held at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 25–29 August 1980.Google Scholar
Ali, S. (1979) The Book of Indian Birds. Bombay: Oxford University Press: 187 pp.Google Scholar
Andriesse, J.P. (1988) Nature and management of tropical peat soils. FAO Soils Bulletin 59: 165 pp.Google Scholar
Anon. (1990) World Resources 1990–1991. New York: Oxford University Press: 383 pp.Google Scholar
Anon. (1991) World Resources 1991–1992. New York: Oxford University Press: 291 pp.Google Scholar
Anon. (1993) Directory of Indian Wetlands. World Wildlife Federation, New Delhi: 264 pp.Google Scholar
Anon. (1994) World development report. World Bank development report 1994. New York: Oxford University Press: 254 pp.Google Scholar
Bakker, J.I. (1995) Sustainability and International Rural Development. Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press Inc.: 250 pp.Google Scholar
Barras, J.A., Bourgeois, P.E. & Handley, L.R. (1994) Land loss in coastal Louisiana 1956–90. National Biological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center Open File Report 94–01: 4 pp.Google Scholar
Bhargava, D.S. (1994) Dal Lake clean-up strategy: an example for others? Environmental Conservation 21: 269–72.Google Scholar
Brown, L., Flavine, Q. & Pootel, S. (1991) State of the World. A World Watch Institute report on progress towards a sustainable society. World Watch Institute India, New Delhi: 260 pp.Google Scholar
Chatterjee, N. (1995) Social forestry in environmentally degraded regions of India: case-study of the Mayurakshi Basin. Environmental Conservation 22: 20–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chopra, R. (1985) The State of India's Environment. New Delhi: Ambassador Press: 393 pp.Google Scholar
Chowdhury, K.N. (1995) India's Rajaji National Park and threatened elephants. Environmental Conservation 22: 79–80.Google Scholar
Conner, B. & Skladany, M. (1991) Aquacultural development in tropical Asia: a re-evaluation. Natural Resources Forum 15(1): 66–73.Google Scholar
Das, H.S., Mishra, R.K. & Sinha, B.N. (1990) Some observations on Chilka wetland ecosystem. In: Ecosystem degradation in India, ed. Sinha, B.N., pp. 85–93. New Delhi: Ashis Publishing House.Google Scholar
de la Cruz, A.A. (1978) Production and transport of detritus in wetlands. In: Wetland Functions and Values: the State of our Understanding, ed. Greeson, P.E., Clark, J.R. & Clark, J.E., pp. 162–74. Proceedings of the national symposium on Wetlands, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 7–10 November 1978. American Water Resources, St. Anthony Falls Hydraulic Laboratory, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.Google Scholar
Edwards, P. (1985) Aquaculture: A Component of Low Cost Sanitation Technolog). The World Bank, Washington, D.C.: 45 pp.Google Scholar
Ernst, C.H. & Barbour, R.W. (1989) Turtles of the World. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press: 313 pp.Google Scholar
Fernando, C.H. (1977) Investigations on the aquatic fauna of tropical rice-fields with special reference to southeast Asia. Geo-Eco-Trop 1: 166–88.Google Scholar
Fernando, C.H. (1984) Reservoirs and lakes of southeast Asia (Oriental Region). In: Ecosystems of the World Vol. 23, ed. Taub, F.B., pp. 441–6. Amsterdam: Elsevier Press.Google Scholar
Freeman, , David, M. (1992) Choice Against Choice: Constructing a Policy-Assessing Sociology for Social Development. Nivvot, CO: University Press of Colorado: 365 pp.Google Scholar
Gopal, B. (1991) Wetland (mis)management by keeping people out: two examples from India. Landscape and Urban Planning 20: 53–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gopal, B. (1992) Tropical wetlands: degradation and need for rehabilitation. In: Ecosystem Rehabilitation Vol. 2: Ecosystem analysis and synthesis, ed. Wali, M.K., pp. 277–96. The Hague: Academic Publishing.Google Scholar
Gopal, B. (1994) Conservation of inland waters in India: an overview. Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung für Theoretische and Angewandte Limnologie 25: 2494–7.Google Scholar
Gopal, B. & Sah, M. (1993) Conservation and management of rivers in India: case-study of the River Yamuna. Environmental Conservation 20: 243–54.Google Scholar
Government of India (1991) India 1990: A Reference Annual. Research and Reference Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Delhi, India: 920 pp.Google Scholar
Government of India (1993) India 1992: A Reference Annual. Research and Reference Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Delhi, India: 910 pp.Google Scholar
Hardin, G. (1968) Tragedy of the commons. Science 162: 1243–8.Google Scholar
Hawkins, R.E. (1986) Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History. Delhi: Oxford University Press: 620 pp.Google Scholar
Hawting, G. & Mateo, N. (1987) Farming on high. International Development Research Center, Markham, Ontario. Report 16(1): 4–5.Google Scholar
Hoffman, J.S., Wells, J.B. & Titus. J.G. (1986) Future global warming and sea level rise. In: Greenhouse effect, sea level rise and coastal wetlands, ed. Titus, J.G., EPA–230–05–86–013, US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.: 232 pp.Google Scholar
Hulkarni, D.H. (1970) Forestry in India. Oregon State University Printing Dept, Eugene, Oregon: 38 pp.Google Scholar
IUCN (1990) Directory of Wetlands of International Importance. Ramsar Convention Bureau, Gland, Switzerland: 796 pp.Google Scholar
Jodha, N.S. (1992) Common Property Resources – A Missing Dimension of Development Strategies. Report No. 169. The World Bank, Washington, D.C: 87 pp.Google Scholar
Mahadevan, C. & Prasada Rao, R. (1958) Causes of the growth of sand spit, north of Godavari confluence. Memoirs of Oceanography 2: 69–74.Google Scholar
Malini, B.H., Rao, K.S. & Rao, K.N. (1993) Evolution and dynamics of the Chilka Lake. In: The Management of Coastal Lagoons and Enclosed Bays, ed. Sorensen, J., Gable, F. & Bandarin, F., pp. 257–68. Proceedings of the eighth symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management, New Orleans, Louisiana. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, USA.Google Scholar
Mitchell, D.S. and Gopal, B. (1990) Invasion of tropical freshwater by alien aquatic plants. In: Ecology of Biological Invasion in the Tropics, ed. Ramakrishnan, P.S., pp. 139–54. New Delhi: International Scientific Publications.Google Scholar
Mitsch, W.J. & Gosselink, J.G. (1986) Wetlands. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold: 539 pp.Google Scholar
Montague, C.L., Zale, A.V. & Percival, H.F. (1987) Ecological effects of coastal marsh impoundments: a review. Environmental Management 11(6): 743–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Office of Technology Assessment (1991) Changing by degrees: Steps to reduce greenhouse gases. OTA–0–482, US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C: 354 pp.Google Scholar
S.P., Packer (1984) Dictionary of Earth Science. New York: McGraw Hill: 837 pp.Google Scholar
Pandey, S. (1993) Changes in waterbird diversity due to the construction of Pong Dam Reservoir, Himachal Pradesh, India. Biological Conservation 66: 125–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Panwar, H.S., Badola, R., Sinha, B. &. Silori, C. (1992) The wilderness factor protected areas and people – compatible strategies. Sanctuary (Asia) 12(5): 75–85.Google Scholar
Pessarakli, M. (1991) Formation of saline and sodic soils and their reclamation. Journal of Environmental Science and Health A26(7): 1303–20.Google Scholar
Primavera, J.H. (1991) Intensive prawn farming in the Philippines: ecological, social, and economic implications. Ambio 20: 28–33.Google Scholar
Rai, S.C., Sharma, E. & Sundriyal, R.C. (1994) Conservation in the Sikkim Himalaya: traditional knowledge and land-use of the Mamlay watershed. Environmental Conservation 21: 30–56.Google Scholar
Rao, K.N. & Sadakata, N. (1993) Holocene evolution of deltas on the east coast of India. In: Deltas of the World, ed. Kay, R., pp. 1–15. Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management, New Orleans, Louisiana. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, USA.Google Scholar
Rodgers, W.A. & Panwar, H.S. (1988) Planning a Wildlife Protected Area Network in India. Vol. I and II. Field Document No. 7. Wildlife Institute of India Publication; Dehradun: unpaginated.Google Scholar
Savenije, H.H.G. & Pages, J. (1992) Hypersalinity: a dramatic change in the hydrology of Saheiian estuaries. Journal of Hydrology 135: 157–74.Google Scholar
Scott, D.A. & Pole, C.M. (1989) A Status Overview of Asian Wetlands. Asian Wetlands Bureau, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Publication No. 53.Google Scholar
Singh, B.P. (1994) Biodiversity conservation in mangrove environment. Indian Forester 120: 827–36.Google Scholar
Singh, S.P. (1995) India's population problem, a global issue of environment and sustainability: an appeal for cooperation. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 76: 55–9.Google Scholar
Smith, T.J. III, (1987) Effects of light and intertidal position on seedling survival and growth in tropical tidal forests. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 110: 133–46.Google Scholar
Sorensen, J. (1993) The management of enclosed coastal waterbodies: the need for a framework for international information exchange. In: The Management of Coastal Lagoons and Enclosed Bays, ed. Sorensen, J., Gable, F. & Bandarin, F., pp. 1–17. Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management, New Orleans, Louisiana. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, USA.Google Scholar
Stebbings, E.B. (1962) The Forests of India. Vol. IV. London: Oxford University Press: 485 pp.Google Scholar
Tharpar, R. (1963) A History of India. Vol. 1. New Delhi: Penguin Books: 381 pp.Google Scholar
Ulluwishewa, R. (1995) Traditional practices of inland fishery resources management in the dry zone of Sri Lanka: implications for sustainability. Environmental Conservation 22: 127–32.Google Scholar
US Government Printing Office (1990) Sardar Sarovar Dam Project. Hearing before the subcommittee on natural resources, agriculture research and environment of the committee on science, space, and technology US House of Representatives 101 Congress 24 October 1989. US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.: 218 pp.Google Scholar
World Development Report (1994) World Development Indicators. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 254 pp.Google Scholar