5/3/11 1
Wetlands of IndiaPresentation by Maneka Mirchandaney, Std XII, Mallya Aditi International School,
BangaloreDesign 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
Facts About Wetlands
33
Wetlands are typically lowlying 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 manmade
Wetlands can contain fresh water, salt water, or brackish (a combination of the two)
44
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)
55
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.
66
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
77
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
88
Uses of wetlands –
Wetlands provide livelihoods by being a source of (Consumptive use )
They can also be recreation spaces (nonconsumptive 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
1212
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 OW NER OF A W ETLAND
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
W rong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry! The right answer is “Swim m ing 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
W rong!!!!!!!!!
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
W rong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry! That is wrong! The right answer is “Play gam es on the com puter.”
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
W rong!!!!!!!!!
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
W rong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry! That is wrong! The right answer is “Swim m ing 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
3232
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, VembanadKol, Wular
Can you name the states where these wetlands are found?
Find the following:
A word search on Ramsar sites in India
3333
A word search on Ramsar sites in India answers
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)
3535
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Wetland_restoration_in_Australia.jpg/800pxWetland_restoration_in_Australia.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Wetlands_boardwalk.jpghttp://cdn.wn.com/pd/8a/9b/da2bf7243e0118fed8e1fdd2716d_grande.jpghttp://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/31/images/stateswamp.jpghttp://en.wikivisual.com/images/7/72/Wetland500.JPGhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/bobistraveling/3686484594/http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/1415144874_fda75d89f0_b.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4682074616_93884810fe_b.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4795429521_e0bc52d462_b.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4819620871_af19748b11_b.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2737372095_d8bc30253d.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/3749301289_2c8538e404_b.jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/376272250_299c283c99_b.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2387221908_aa2155c96d_b.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2181766735_3f20f3ddb6_b.jpghttp://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Wetlands_for_Kidshttp://assets.panda.org/img/original/wetlandservices.jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/317488203_967e4514e6_b.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2978989663_ba70aa80e2_b.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4276781301_4ec88b01a4_b.jpghttp://earthdimensions.com/mitigation.aspxhttp://clintonschoolblog.com/cblog/wpcontent/uploads/2010/07/wetlands.jpghttp://www.davisexcavating.com/images/lafarge1.jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/381634787_f52e84a5af_b.jpg
