Water bodies and other regions that are constantly or periodically covered by water due to poorly draining soils are referred to as inland wetlands. Marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps are examples of inland wetlands. This article will explain to you about the Inland Wetlands which will be helpful in Environment preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Types of Inland Wetlands

Inland wetlands are classified into two major categories based on their formations namely Natural Wetlands and Man Made wetlands.

Natural Wetlands

• Natural wetlands are those which are formed naturally without any man made interference.
• Natural wetlands include Lakes and Ponds, High altitude wetlands, riverine wetlands, waterlogged wetlands and rivers and streams.

Lakes and Ponds

• Lakes and ponds are inland water bodies which are generally surrounded by the land and inlet or outlet river steam.
• These streams act as a source of water and outlet drains of water.
• The lakes and ponds are differentiated by the length and depth of the water surface.
• They provide essential ecosystem services (ES) like water supply for home, agricultural, and industrial use, hydropower generation, flood control, climate management, and significantly improve human well-being.
• Example: Loktak Lake Manipur, Thol lake Gujarat, Nal sarovar Gujarat, Udhwa Lake Jharkhand, etc.

High Altitude Wetland (HAW)

• High altitude wetlands are wetlands whose water bodies are present in higher altitudes above 3000 m.
• The HAW found in the Indian Himalayas are extremely significant to the local population since they support them in various ecosystem services.
• These wetlands are also known to be the habitat of a number of endangered indigenous species of birds, medicinal plants, and mammals.
• These Himalayan wetlands serve as a buffer between glacial meltwater and outflows to lesser rivers and streams, which is crucial to the hydrological regime of powerful rivers like the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus.
• Fish populations, agriculture, river infrastructure, flood cycles, and people in certain river basins might all be affected due to decline of High altitude Wetlands.
• It is crucial that these HAWs be preserved in order to protect the populations and wildlife that depend on these freshwater sources.
• Example: Tso moriri and Tso kar of Jammu and Kashmir, Gurudongmar Lake Sikkim.

Ox-bow Lakes

• An oxbow lake begins as a bend or meander in a river. A lake forms when the river takes a different, shorter path. Along the river's edge, the meander transforms into an oxbow lake.
• Oxbow lakes typically form on flat, low-lying plains near the mouth of a river or into another body of water. Rivers on these plains frequently have wide meanders.
• Oxbow lakes are formed by two sets of curves: one curving away from the straight path of the river and one curving back.
• Erosion and deposition eventually result in the formation of a new channel through the small piece of land at the narrow end of the meander. The river takes a detour. The oxbow lakes are the remnants of the river's bend.
• Oxbow lakes are bodies of still water. This means that no water flows into or out of them. The lake is not fed by a stream or spring, and it has no natural outlet.
• Oxbow lakes frequently turn into swamps or bogs, and they frequently dry up as their water evaporates.
• Oxbow lakes can provide excellent wildlife habitat. Oxbow lakes are common along the Amazon River in South America, and their still waters provide a unique habitat for plants and wildlife.

Riverine Wetland

• The systems that are contained within a channel (such as a river, creek, or waterway) and accompanying streamside vegetation are known as riverine wetlands.
• Riverine wetlands have very fluctuating water levels. The wetlands may be perennially wet, occasionally wet, or dry for extended periods of time.
• They provide various ecosystem services like groundwater recharge, water storage, carbon storage, flood control, and water purification .
• They serve as breeding grounds and refuges for wildlife during floods, serve as food storage areas, and aid in the dispersal of various plant and animal species.
• Riverine wetlands provide a special diversity of biological circumstances that is unmatched in other wetlands of comparable scales due to the variability of the geomorphological, physicochemical, and hydrogeological contexts.
• They act as a food reservoir during flooding seasons.
• Examples: Bachamari bil West Bengal

Waterlogged Wetlands

• Waterlogged wetlands are wetlands that are frequently or continuously inundated with water and are distinguished by emergent soft-stemmed flora that is adapted to the circumstances of saturated soil.
• In waterlogged wetland the soil profile is temporarily or permanently saturated in water.
• These wetlands supply streams with water, recharging groundwater reserves and regulating streamflow.
• During times of drought, this role is especially crucial. By delaying and storing flood water, marshes in a watershed serve to lessen damage brought on by floods.
• In waterlogged wetland the soil profile is temporarily or permanently saturated in water.
• These wetlands use additional nutrients from runoff to grow their flora. This reduces the threat of polluting the water bodies.
• Examples: Nal sarovar catchment area Gujarat, Ghana bird sanctuary Gujarat.

Marshes

• A marsh is a type of wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants like grasses, rushes, and sedges. As a transition to drier land, small shrubs commonly grow along the perimeter.
• Marshes form naturally along the shallow edges of lakes and rivers.
• They support a diverse range of aquatic invertebrates, many of which occupy and feed on decomposing vegetation.
• Numerous species of fish, amphibians (frogs), reptiles (snakes and turtles), waterfowl, water birds, and wetland mammals such as muskrat rely on invertebrates.
• Marshes can be found in quiet shallow pockets of large lakes and around the periphery of small lakes.
• Marshes are highly dynamic, subject to changes in flooding, drying, and hydrology caused by climatic conditions as well as beaver activity.

Swamps

• Swamps are forested wetlands distinguished by specific tree and soil types.
• Swamps and lowland forests are very similar and are frequently confused.
• Swamps are typically wetter for a longer period of the year and have deeper standing water than lowland forests.
• Swamps are frequently classified based on the predominant type of tree that grows there. There are hardwood swamps, cedar swamps, and cypress swamps, for example.
• Except for Antarctica, they can be found on every continent.

Man-made Wetlands

• Man-made Wetlands were created with specific goals in mind, such as the storage of water for irrigation and drinking, fish production, or recreation.
• Some examples of man-made wetlands include impoundments, dams, barrages, salt pans, aquaculture ponds, and reservoirs.

Reservoirs / Barrages

• The reservoirs stop the flow of water and create a water source, whereas barrages are more temporary in nature and are built to divert the course of the river.
• The reservoirs and barrages both are man-made resulting in the creation of wetlands that support biodiversity.
• Example: Tenughat reservoir Jharkhand, Tawa reservoir Madhya Pradesh

Salt Pan

• Salt pan is a surface which is covered with salt and other minerals.
• They are commonly found in deserts.
• The minerals present in salt pan acts as a reflector in sun rays .
• Salt pan holds rich species like birds and insects which survive there.
• The significance of salt pan here is that it has high water holding capacity which assists in flood control.
• Examples: Sambhar lake Rajasthan, Gulf of Kachchh Gujarat.

Tanks and Ponds

• Traditional water conservation systems include tanks and ponds.
• They have high cultural and social benefits.
• These act as a reservoir that enables water storage and distribution.
• Example: Kottakulam tank, Tamilnadu.

Problems Associated with Inland wetlands

1. Human activities

Excess human activities like removal of vegetation, filling, grading, drainage patterns, building construction and changes in water levels affect the inland wetlands and pose a threat.

2. Catchment Area degradation

Catchment degradation depletes the water holding capacity in wetlands, thus affecting wetland ecosystems.

3. Change in hydrological regime

• Changes in natural hydrological regimes influence wetlands' biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
• Reduced water availability, changing hydro-period, loss of linkage with biodiversity areas, restricted nitrogen exchange, and other factors all contribute to the degradation of natural hydrological regimes.

4. Other factors

Unsustainable harvesting of wetland resources, overgrazing, unsustainable water abstraction, and mining (e.g. salt, sand or laterite) also affects the wetland ecosystem in India.

Government Initiatives Associated with Conservation of Inland Wetlands

The National Wetland Conservation Program (NWCP)

• The National Wetlands Conservation Program aims to protect wetlands around the country (NWCP). It was implemented In 1985-86.
• Wetland management is the responsibility of state governments/UT administrations because the land resources belong to them.
• The MoEF has selected 115 wetlands that require immediate conservation and management measures as part of the initiative.
• It also provides state governments with guidelines and financial and technical aid.
• The criteria for identifying wetlands of national significance under the NWCP are the same as under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• The overall coordination of wetland conservation programs is the responsibility of the federal government.

Wetlands (Conservation and Management Rules) 2017

• Under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 .
• It is a legislative framework for the conservation and management of wetlands in India.
• This is an important step toward conserving, managing and maintaining the natural character of wetlands while allowing for appropriate use.
• These laws increase the institutional framework for environmental issues by establishing State/UT Wetland Authorities and a National Wetland Committee.
• The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 have shifted the focus of wetlands management from the federal government to state governments.
• The rules give the National Wetland Committee an advising body.
• It directs state bodies on integrated wetlands management based on the wise use principle and reviews the development of integrated management of Ramsar Convention sites, among other things.

Conclusion

Global climate change has emerged as a major driver of wetlands loss and degradation, particularly at high altitudes and along coastlines. According to studies, a one-meter rise in sea level would put 84 percent of India's coastal wetlands at risk. Urban and rural growth, agriculture, and silviculture are examples of human activities that may result in the loss of inland wetlands. Hence, it is important to conserve the Wetland ecosystem.

FAQs

Question. What are inland wetlands?

Question. Why are inland wetlands important for the environment?

Question. What types of plants are found in inland wetlands?

Question. How do inland wetlands support biodiversity?

Question. What threats do inland wetlands face?

MCQs

1. Which of the following is a characteristic of inland wetlands?

A) Connected to the sea

B) Found exclusively in coastal areas

C) Covered by water for prolonged periods

D) Always saline

2. Inland wetlands help in controlling floods by:

A) Absorbing excess water

B) Increasing evaporation

C) Absorbing carbon dioxide

D) Increasing water flow

3. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of inland wetlands?

A) Flood control

B) Water purification

C) Carbon sequestration

D) Increased sea levels

4. What is the role of inland wetlands in the carbon cycle?

A) They release large amounts of carbon dioxide

B) They store carbon in the form of organic matter

C) They increase the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere

D) They produce methane in large quantities

5. Which of the following is a common type of inland wetland?

A) Coral reefs

B) Mangrove forests

C) Marshes and swamps

D) Sand dunes

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the ecological significance of inland wetlands in maintaining biodiversity.

Answer: Inland wetlands provide essential habitats for a wide range of species, including migratory birds, amphibians, and fish. They support high biodiversity by offering breeding grounds, food sources, and shelter. Wetlands are also home to unique plant species adapted to wet conditions. The ecological functions of inland wetlands, including nutrient cycling and water filtration, further contribute to maintaining biodiversity.

Q2: Explain the impact of human activities on the health of inland wetlands.

Answer: Human activities such as urbanization, industrial expansion, agricultural practices, and dam construction have severely impacted inland wetlands. Pollution from agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and industrial waste can degrade water quality and destroy habitats. Additionally, the draining of wetlands for land development, agricultural use, and flood control disrupts these vital ecosystems, leading to the loss of biodiversity and ecological services.

Q3: How can the conservation of inland wetlands contribute to sustainable development?

Answer: The conservation of inland wetlands contributes to sustainable development by ensuring the continuation of essential ecosystem services, such as water purification, flood control, and carbon sequestration. Wetland conservation supports sustainable agriculture, improves water quality, and enhances resilience to climate change. Additionally, protecting wetlands ensures the survival of diverse species, promoting environmental stability and long-term human well-being.

Previous Year Questions on Inland Wetlands

1. UPSC CSE 2018

Question: "What are the causes and consequences of wetland degradation in India, and how can they be addressed?"

Answer: Wetland degradation in India is caused by human activities such as draining for agricultural land, urbanization, pollution from industrial and domestic sources, and the introduction of invasive species. These activities result in loss of biodiversity, reduced water quality, and disruption of natural flood control. Addressing these issues requires integrated management strategies, legal protections, and awareness campaigns to promote the value of wetlands.

2. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: "Discuss the role of wetlands in water management and climate regulation."

Answer: Wetlands play a critical role in water management by absorbing excess water during floods, recharging groundwater, and filtering pollutants. They regulate climate by storing carbon in the form of organic matter, mitigating the effects of climate change. Wetlands also influence local weather patterns and contribute to the hydrological cycle, supporting both ecosystems and human communities.