Wetlands – the engagement ring of land and seas gives a treat to all living beings with blessings of nature and pleasant climate. What is a wetland? It includes water bodies like rivers, lakes and streams as well as semi-solid land like marshy lands and paddy fields. Though its contributions to human race was calculated as 15 trillion dollars in 1997, the most sad part is that we often forget the significance of wetlands and the valuable gifts and perks they give us.
The Significance of Wetlands
Wetlands play an important role in reducing soil erosion and natural disasters like tsunamis and floods. They absorb water like a dry piece of sponge during the rainy season and give them out during the of scarcity of water. It provides shelter for many varieties of flora and fauna. Many of them are edible food for man, and many such plants serve as medicines too. It gives shelter to many migrating birds too.
Ramsar Convection, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, has put forward many suggestions and measures to protect our remaining wet lands from being erased forever. Countries that have signed in this convention should nominate a wetland of their country that has made considerable contributions to the environment as well as the human race. Not only that, they should initiate the process to conserve those newly included Ramsar wetlands.
A small note on the 10 best wetlands of the world
In recent years, the World Wide Fund for Nature has published the list of the 10 most significant wetlands of the world. Pantanal (Brazil), Camargue (France), Wasur (Indonesia), Kakadu (Australia), Backwaters of Kerala (India), Okavango (Botswana), Kafue (Zambia), Everglades (USA), Lower Danube (Bulgaria), and Sunderbans (Bangladesh).
It’s a bit surprising that only one wetland that has been listed from India belongs to the southern tip of the country. God’s own country is the motherland of 44 rivers. 5 big lakes carry water of 38 rivers that are linked by canals, and they lie parallel to the Arabian Sea. Backwaters of Kerala include a variety of marine animals and birds, including tortoise, frogs, crabs, and water bodies. So it’s the duty of every citizen to preserve this wetland for future generations.
Image source: Pixabay
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