National 8 (Spotlight Weekly)

Wetlands: Multiple Roles And Benefits

By Deependra Joshi

The term 'wetlands' means different things to different people. According to the Ramsar Convention's definition, which is internationally accepted, wetlands have been defined as "areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static, flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters".

The term 'wetland' translates into Simsar in Nepali. Sim is a derivative of the Persian word Sih, which means low-grade land not suitable for cultivation. Sar is a Sanskrit word meaning water. Thus, Simsar is interpreted as land with water. The informal Wetland Group of Nepal has defined wetlands as "landmass saturated with water due to high water table through either groundwater, atmospheric precipitation or inundation, it may benatural or artificial, permanent or temporary, static or flowing and freshwater or brackish".

The importance of wetlands

Wetlands refer to a broad range of ecosystems, which may be periodically flooded, or under permanent shallow water. Wetlands typically include bogs, fens, swamps, marshes, floodplains and lakes. The 'mix' of water and land produces vegetation and fauna which are adapted to permanent or periodic saturation and often anaerobic soils. Wetlands are valuable, but their value has often not been recognized. Moreover, there is little or no information to suggest that the economic values of wetlands in their conserved states have helped determine policy toward their conversion to agriculture, aquaculture and general development. This neglect is of major concern to countries like Nepal with significant wetland endowments that face equally significant threats. Available evidence suggests that the economic values of wetlands are high or very high and that continued conversion and degradation is not in the national interests. While methodologies for assessing value have been developed and a few studies carried out, few estimate the value of wetland conservation relative to the 'benefits' of wetland degradation (e.g. as reclaimed land for agriculture). In other words, while the tools of a 'proper' project and policy appraisal are in place, they have not been applied at the policy level. In Nepal, there is limited evidence that economic studies have influenced policy.

World Wetland Day

World Wetland Day is celebrated globally on February 2 in remembrance of the Ramsar Treaty concluded 30 years ago in the Iranian town of Ramsar, located between the Elburz mountains and the Caspian Sea coast. On this day in 1971, representatives of 18 countries became the signatories to a Convention of Wetlands. The convention, which is central to the conservation of global wetland resources, has been adopted by 123 contracting parties, including Nepal. This year's Wetland Day theme was "No Wetland, No Water".

Why are wetlands important?

Wetlands provide a variety of goods and services to humanity in direct and indirect ways. Their multiple roles and value to humanity have been increasingly understood and documented in recent years. Our global natural ecosystem has been estimated at US$33 trillion, of which the value of wetland ecosystem is estimated at US$14.9 trillion (45 percent of the total). The values and functions of wetlands can be enumerated as follows:

a) Wetlands hold heavy rainfall and prevent possible downstream floods. The floodwater can be stored either in the soil or retained as surface water in lakes and marshes. Wetland vegetation also slows the flow of floodwater.

b) Many wetlands help recharge underground aquifers that store 97 percent of the world's unfrozen fresh water. Underground water is naturally cleaner and is the only source of drinking water for billions of people. Wetlands are also known for providing water for 17 percent of the world's cropland irrigation. Ground water plays a major role in recharging aquifers that help to maintain biological communities.

c) Wetlands slow the passage of water and encourage the deposition of nutrients and sediments carried in water. This capacity for nutrient retention makes wetlands among the most productive ecosystems.

d) Wetlands act as significant carbon sinks. The destruction of wetlands releases carbondioxide - a greenhouse gas - while wetlands restoration and creation increase the sequestering of carbon in the environment.

e) Wetlands are reservoirs of biodiversity. They house a spectacular concentration of flora and fauna. Freshwater wetlands cover only 1 percent of the earth's surface, but they hold more than 40 percent of its biological species and 12 percent of all animal species. Wetlands also provide habitat for a significant number of endemic species. The biodiversity in wetlands is also valuable as a reservoir of genes. Rice is a common wetland plant and the staple diet for over half of the world's population. The wetlands of Rupandehi and Kapilbastu districts are important for wild rice habitats in Nepal.

f) Plants and soils in wetlands play a significant role in purifying water, removing high level of nitrogen and phosphorus, commonly associated with agricultural runoff and, in some cases, removing toxic chemicals. This is important in preventing eutrophication further downstream. Many wetland plants such as water hyacinth, Typha and phragmites species have the capacity to remove toxic substances that have come from pesticides, industrial discharges and mining.

g) Many wetlands are prime locations for tourism and recreation. Phewa, Rupa and Begnas lakes in Nepal are notable examples, which generate considerable income.

h) Many wetlands have significant religious, historical, archaeological and/or other cultural values for local communities. Most of the Himalayan lakes, major confluence of rivers and a number of ponds are well known for their religious and cultural significance in Nepal.

i) Wetlands provide a variety of other benefits to humanity in the form of products.

Status of wetlands in Nepal

Though a mountainous country, Nepal is endowed with many types of wetlands. These range from high-altitude glacial lakes to hot springs, ponds to river floodplains, marshes to swamps and so forth. They are critical habitats for one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephants, fishing cat, gharial and mugger crocodiles, turtles, gangetic dolphins and 193 species of wetlands-dependant birds. Out of the total wetland-dependant birds, 11 species are described as globally threatened. There are 10 species of amphibians, one species of reptile, eight species of fish and seven species of flowering plants endemic to Nepal's wetlands.

Wetlands are spread over approximately 5 percent of Nepal's total landmass. There are 163 wetland sites in the Terai. Koshi Tappu has been recognized as wetland of international significance, specially for waterfowl habitat (Ramsar Site) in 1987. Other Terai wetlands for potential inclusion in the Ramsar Site are Ghodaghodi Tal (Kailali district), Beeshazar Tal (Chitwan) and Jagdishpur Reservoir (Kapilvastu). Proper information on the biodiversity status of wetlands in the middle and high mountain regions is yet to be generated. However, the Phoksumdo and Rara Lakes in the north-west Himalayas are well-known mountain wetlands with high endemic biological species. The Rara Lake harbors three species of endemic fish (Schizothorax spp.), while the Shey Phoksundo lake area supports many endemic plants e.g. Pedicularis spp., Meconopsis sp. and Deyeusia sp.

A number of ethnic communities depend on wetland resources for their subsistence. They are poor and landless depending on collection, use and sale of biodiversity resources for livelihood. Some such communities are Sunaha (Karnali river), Mallah (Gandak Barrage), Bote (Nawalparasi and Chitwan), Mushahar (Nawalparasi), Bantar (Sunsari and Saptari), Gongi (Koshi Tappu), Mukhia (Rautahat), Dushad (Parsa), Sahani (Rautahat, Parsa and Bara), Kewat (Nawalparasi), Danuwars (Chitwan, Siraha and Sindhuli), Kushar and Majhi (inner Terai), Darai (Chitwan and Nawalparasi), Kumal (Mahabharat range), Barhamus (Gorkha), Dhangar (Morang, Sunsari and Sarlahi), Tharus (Terai) and Pode (Pokhara and Kavre).

Unfortunately, most of the wetlands of Nepal, especially those in the Terai, and their rich biological resources are facing severe threats from the growing population. Some of the major threats are siltation, eutrophication, over exploitation of wetland resources, over fishing, hunting and poaching, overgrazing by livestock, illegal harvesting of wetland resource, encroachment, water pollution, developmental activities in adjoining areas, drainage, introduction of invasive species, and floods. The main causes underlying the degradation of wetlands range include uncoordinated planning, lack of coordination among government agencies, lack of information and awareness. This is illustrated by multiple and conflicting ownership of wetlands and ineffective policy. Nepalese legislation lacks a definition for the term 'wetland' and reclamation often goes unnoticed.

Wetlands provide the following functions:

a) Natural flood management

b) Wave attenuation/shoreline stabilisation

c) Storm control

d) Microclimate stabilization

e) Pollution control

f) Sediment retention

g) Food chain support

h) Groundwater recharge/discharge

i) Biodiversity habitat

j) Fuelwood supplies

k) Water transport

l) Commercial/subsistence fisheries

m) Forage

n) Water supply

o) Non-use value

While some of the listed values appear overtly economic (e.g. commercial fisheries) and others appear to be ecological (e.g. sediment retention), all ecological values have an economic value. This wetland loss imposes economic losses. But because there are relatively few markets in the functions of wetlands, the losses do not show up in the marketplace. Effectively, the value of the loss appears to be zero or very small. When compared to the alternative use of the space occupied by a wetland, the economic value of a wetland in its conserved state thus appears to be insignificant. This 'market failure' is the predominant underlying cause of wetland loss and is compounded in contexts where there is rapid population growth or migration. If these economic values were to be integrated into decisions about land use, fewer wetlands would be converted to other uses.

Threats to Biodiversity

The main threats to wetlands biodiversity arise from the loss of habitat through draining and land conversion, disturbance of wildlife from intensive activity in the wetlands, pollution of wetlands from urban and industrial development. As noted above, these threats are, in turn, manifestations of underlying economic and social forces which neglect the economic values of wetlands. Future threats are very much current threats writ large. As population grows, competition for land intensifies. Population and economic growth also intensify the demand for intensive farming, adding to pollution threats from land drainage and run-off. As societies become richer, two forces may be at work. The first makes the value of land in some development activity higher. Hence, the pressure on wetlands increases, especially if wetland values are not marketed. Only after some point is there a chance that higher incomes will motivate a demand for conservation. For most countries, this second effect is a long way into the future and cannot be relied upon to protect wetlands.

The challenges for wetland conservation

There is increasingly wide appreciation that wetlands, in all their forms, provide unique services to human societies. Wetlands play a key role in the global hydrological cycle; supply water for the survival of biological diversity, human consumption, agricultural production and recreation; supply food (especially fish and rice and other natural products) and fibre (e.g. wood, peat and reeds); are centres of economic development focused around industry, transport, food production and tourism; and as well are places rich in unique plant and animal species. They are irreplaceable natural assets, with highly significant ecological, economic, social, cultural and recreational values; the nature of these values varying in different places and circumstances.

However, in all regions of the world, human populations are suffering social, economic and environmental hardships resulting from the destruction and mismanagement of their natural resources, notably including their wetlands and water resources. This destruction, which is continuing at alarming rates in many countries, is contributing to escalating poverty and water supply and food security problems, as well as robbing the planet of the biological diversity with which wetlands are endowed. Its causes are multiple - from local actions and national policies to global issues.

Major global issues influencing the conservation and wise use of wetlands include:

a) Climate change and its predicted impacts, including changing and more extreme patterns of drought, storms and flooding; rises in sea temperature and sea level; thawing of permafrost and glaciers; and changes in the ecosystem distribution and quality; and the implications of these for species' survival;

b) Increasing globalization of trade, including in agricultural products, fisheries and other natural resources;

c) The changing role of national governments through increasing privatization of services (including water supplies), devolution of decision-making responsibilities, and greater empowerment of local communities;

d) Increasing land-use pressures leading to continuing loss and damage to wetlands and their values and functions;

e) Increasing population pressure and economic challenges placing local communities in the developing world on the edge of survival;

f) Increasing influence in the developing world of development banks and international development agencies and the need to ensure that such agencies are fully engaged in the major issues affecting wetlands; and

g) The need to ensure continuing political support and public interest in biodiversity issues and sustainable development ten years after the establishment of Agenda 21 through the Rio 92 process.

The continuing challenge for Ramsar contracting parties is to ensure conservation and sustainable use of their wetlands and water resources within the context of these global pressures and changes. Despite the many tangible achievements on the ground, and in raising awareness of the importance of wetland conservation and wise use, the challenge remains formidable.

To respond to this challenge, the contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention seek to deliver their commitments to wetland conservation and wise use through three 'pillars' of action:

a) Working toward the wise use of all their wetlands through a wide range of actions and processes contributing to human well-being, including poverty alleviation and water and food security, through sustainable wetlands, water allocation and river basin management, including establishing national wetland policies and plans; reviewing and harmonizing the framework of laws affecting wetlands; undertaking inventory and assessment; integrating wetlands into the sustainable development process; ensuring public participation in wetland management and the maintenance of cultural values by local communities and indigenous people; promoting communication, education and public awareness; increasing private sector involvement; and harmonized implementation of the Ramsar Convention with other multilateral environmental agreements;

b) Devoting particular attention to the further identification, designation and management of a coherent and comprehensive suite of sites to complete the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List), and to ensure the effective monitoring and management of those sites included in the list; and

c) Cooperating internationally in their delivery of wetland conservation and wise use, through the management of shared water resources, wetlands, and wetland species, collaboration with other conventions and international organizations, sharing of information and expertise, and increasing the flow of financial resources and relevant technologies to developing countries and countries in transition.

Conclusion

The wetlands of Nepal provide habitat for a number of endemic and threatened biological species, including human beings. Many ethnic groups rely on wetland resources for their livelihood. Wetlands are, therefore, valuable for the overall socio-economic development of the country. Unfortunately however, in the light of the conflicting claims over these resources and in the absence of an effective mechanism to ensure efficient local-level management, they are gradually disappearing from the scene. With their disappearance, the valuable aquatic biodiversity is on the verge of extinction. All concerned stakeholders should urgently join hands for restoration and management of wetlands in Nepal.