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Wetlands of IndiaPresentation by Maneka Mirchandaney, Std XII, Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore

Design assistance by Thara Thomas

What is a wetland?

Wetlands are interface between Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems .It is an area of land whose soil is Saturated with moisture either permanently or for a long enough season every year to support aquatic plants.

Wetlands are

ecosystems whose formation, processes and characteristics are determined by water.

They have been called the

'nature's kidneys' because they cleanse our environment.

Wetlands are not necessarily "wet" all year round

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Facts About Wetlands

Wetlands are typically low-lying areas

They can be coastal or inland

Floodplains, swamps, marshes, mangroves deltas and lakes are some types of wetlands.

A paddy farm is also a wetland

They can be natural or man-made

Wetlands can contain fresh water, salt water, or brackish (a combination of the two)

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Some important wetlands

in India

Ashtamudi (Wetland)

Bhitarkanika (Mangroves)

Bhoj (Wetland)

Chandertal (Wetland)

Chilika (Lake)

Deepor Beel

East Calcutta (Wetlands)

Harike (Lake)

Hokera (Wetland)

Kanjli

Keoladeo (National Park)

Kolleru (Lake)

Loktak (Lake)

Point Calimere (Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary)

Pong Dam (Lake)

Renuka (Lake)

Ropar

Rudrasagar (Lake)

Sambhar (Lake)

Sasthamkotta (Lake)

Surinsar – Mansar (Lakes)

Tsomoriri

Vembanad-Kol (Wetland)

Wular (Lake)

Upper Ganga River (Narora to Brijghat stretch)

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Importance of wetlands

Many species of birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, and shelter, especially during migration and breeding.

They provide rich habitat for an immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs.

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Uses of wetlands

Think of a wetland as a huge sponge

Wetlands store water when it is in excess and release it to the ground during dry periods

This helps in recharge and discharge of groundwater

They assist in flood control

They reduce the momentum of water as it flows to a river or a stream, thereby reducing soil erosion

They are also important to the nutrient cycle.

water management

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Uses of wetlands

Wetlands plants and soil store carbon instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Thus they help moderate global climate

Mangroves can protect shorelines from strong winds and can reduce the impact of hurricanes and tsunamis

Plants that grow in wetlands are very effective in filtering out water pollution

Many wetlands remove pollutants from surface runoff and small streams. 

Wetlands help retain sediments and increase soil fertility

environmental

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Uses of wetlands –

Wetlands provide livelihoods by being a source of (Consumptive use )

They can also be recreation spaces (non-consumptive uses )

• Agricultural produce

• Craft materials• timber production • Medicinal plants • Fishing• Hunting

Wetlands provide opportunities for humans to enjoy outdoor activities, such as canoeing, fishing, and bird watching.

economic

Contaminants and sediments are filtered.

Provides critical wildlife habitat

Cleaner water outflow

How wetlands work

Threats to wetlands Natural

Drought

Over grazing by wildlife

Natural disasters like hurricanes and floods

Threats to wetlands Anthropogenic

1.Development

Draining out wetlands for construction

Damming them to form lakes or ponds

Diverting water flow

2.Pollution

4. Global warming

3. Sand and gravel mining

5. Acid rain

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The Convention on Wetlands -- called the "Ramsar Convention" – was signed

in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.

An intergovernmental treaty - embodies the commitments of its member

countries to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands

in their territories.

Ramsar convention

DO A PROJECT

SHOW IT TO YOUR CLASS

TALK TO THE OWNER OF A WETLAND

ORGANIZE A FIELD TRIP

Take an initiative, talk to the owners of a wetland on preserving them.

Organize a class field trip to a wetland (preferably a destroyed one) and explain about the history of the wetland and why it was destroyed.

MAKE SURE YOUR HOUSE ISN’T BUILT ON WETLAND

What can we do?

Quiz master

Hi! I’m the quiz master! Click on the button with the right

answer. Good luck!

Which of these is NOT a use of wetlands?Q. 1

To clean the environment

Sedimentation of rocks

Swimming and other sports

Quiz master

Wrong!!!!!!!!!

Sorry! The right answer is “Swimming and

other water sports.”

Quiz master

Correct!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!That is right!

Congratulations!

Which fact about a wetland is right?Q. 2

A wetland always has a pH level above 9.5

There is always shellfish in a wetland

A wetland is a low area where the land is filled with water

Quiz master

Wrong!!!!!!!!!

Sorry! The right answer is “A wetland is a low area where the land is filled with water.”

Quiz master

Correct!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!That is right!

Congratulations!

What is NOT a way to help increase awareness about wetlands?

Q. 3

Play games on the computer

Do a project on wetlands

Organize a field trip to a wetland

Quiz master

Wrong!!!!!!!!!

Sorry! That is wrong! The right answer is “Play games on the computer.”

Quiz master

Correct!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!That is right!

Congratulations!

What is a good pH level for a wetland?Q. 4

4.0 7.5 9.5

Quiz master

Wrong!!!!!!!!!

Sorry! That is wrong! The right answer is “7.5”

“7.5”

Quiz master

Correct!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!That is right!

Congratulations!

“7.5”

Which one of these is NOT a type of wetland?Q. 5

Marsh Reservoir Swimming pool

Quiz master

Wrong!!!!!!!!!

Sorry! That is wrong! The right answer is “Swimming pool”

Quiz master

Correct!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo!That is right!

Congratulations!

Activities

Divide your class into groups of not more than 5 people each.

Use the facts on the next page (note : some of them are false) and give each group a few facts, equal amounts of true and false.

Each group in turn says one fact. After they say it, someone from another group has to say whether the fact is true or false.

If he/she is right, the team gets a point. If he/she is wrong, they lose a point. The team with the most points wins.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Here is an activity you can do in class

FactsThe water hyacinth is a plant

The water should have a pH level between 6.5 and 8.5

Mangroves are groves of mango trees.If the water is acidic then it is hard for animals to live

A wetland is always natural

Wetlands always have salty water

Wetlands provide a good habitat for animals

Reeds can be found in wetlands

Building a house on a wetland is good.

These are just a few facts that you can use, why not try making some more?

4.0 is a good pH level for a wetland

True

False

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B A S I R I R O M O S T K V U

L K W D E E P O R B E E L S P

O I A L I K A P O N G D A M O

S N O E D A L O E K E S M Z I

U A M E S N O R W U T A B A N

R K M C T O K S X H R P R U T

E R X B A M T U A K I L I H C

L A A S H T A M U D I U L R A

L T Y J D A K T Z O Y R J P L

O I O I F O R R E R A S N H I

K H A T T U C L A C T S A E M

B B O T G L Q L S P E Q K S E

W E A E H J U V D M O W C O R

S T C A I W P Y A H A R I K E

L O K D A N A B M E V I A M Y

Ashtamudi, Bhitarkanika, Bhoj, Chilika, Deepor Beel, East Calcutta, Harike,Kanjli, Keoladeo, Kolleru, Loktak, Point Calimere, Pong Dam, Ropar, Sambhar, Sasthamkotta, Tsomoriri, Vembanad-Kol, Wular

Can you name the states where these wetlands are found?

Find the following:

A word search on Ramsar sites in India

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A word search on Ramsar sites in India answers

B A S I R I R O M O S T K V U

L K W D E E P O R B E E L S P

O I A L I K A P O N G D A M O

S N O E D A L O E K E S M Z I

U A M E S N O R W U T A B A N

R K M C T O K S X H R P R U T

E R X B A M T U A K I L I H C

L A A S H T A M U D I U L R A

L T Y J D A K T Z O Y R J P L

O I O I F O R R E R A S N H I

K H A T T U C L A C T S A E M

B B O T G L Q L S P E Q K S E

W E A E H J U V D M O W C O R

S T C A I W P Y A H A R I K E

L O K D A N A B M E V I A M Y

Thank you!

Watching this slideshow will not only help you, but can help other people, animals and plants. It can help the environment, but you need to start and set the trend. Let other people know about the destruction of wetlands. MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Now that you know about wetlands, take a step forward and do something! (See slide 13 for ideas)

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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Wetland_restoration_in_Australia.jpg/800px-Wetland_restoration_in_Australia.jpg

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