1. Design assistance by Thara Thomas
Wetlands of India
Presentation by Maneka Mirchandaney, Std XII, Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore
Design assistance by Thara Thomas 1

2. 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.
Wetlands are not necessarily "wet"
all year round
They have been called the
'nature's kidneys' because they cleanse our environment.
14 percent of the world's wetlands are located in Canada

3. Facts About Wetlands Wetlands are typically low-lying areas
They can be natural or man-made
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
Wetlands can contain fresh water, salt water, or brackish (a combination of the two)

4. 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)
Some important wetlands in India

5. Importance of wetlands
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs.
They provide rich habitat for an immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.
Many species of birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, and shelter, especially during migration and breeding.
Wetland vegetation is specially adapted to remaining stable in wet muddy soils. They can resist water flow and can also manage to survive when water quantity reduces. They can survive even if there is little or no oxygen present in the underlying soil. These conditions are typically very stressful to plants, but this is an adaptive feature of wetland plants.

6. Uses of wetlands water management They are also important to the
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
Wetlands protect us against floods. They reduce the velocity of floodwaters and store some of the excess water.
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.

7. Uses of wetlands environmental
Wetlands plants and soil store carbon instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Thus they help moderate global climate
Wetlands help retain sediments and increase soil fertility
Many wetlands remove pollutants from surface runoff and small streams. 
Plants that grow in wetlands are very effective in filtering out water pollution
Mangroves can protect shorelines from strong winds and can reduce the impact of hurricanes and tsunamis
Wetlands reduce the flow of water. Water traveling with lower velocity moves around plants and vegetation slowly. As a result, suspended sediments drop down and settle on the soil. Hence wetlands act as natural filters.
Bacteria in the water attack the pollutants and excessive nutrients, cleansing the water and so the outflow of water from a wetland is typically very clear.
Coastal wetlands help in buffering storms and strong winds.

8. Uses of wetlands – economic
Wetlands provide livelihoods by being a source of (Consumptive use )
Agricultural produce
Craft materials
timber production
Medicinal plants
Fishing
Hunting
They can also be recreation spaces (non-consumptive uses )
Wetlands provide opportunities for humans to enjoy outdoor activities,
such as canoeing, fishing, and bird watching.

9. How wetlands work Contaminants and sediments are filtered.
Provides critical wildlife habitat
Cleaner water outflow

10. Threats to wetlands Natural
Natural disasters like hurricanes and floods
Over grazing by wildlife
Wetlands do hold water for a fairly long period of time, but prolonged drought can dry them up.
Overgrazing can leave wetlands open to soil erosion
Even though wetlands protect us from severe weather events such as hurricanes and floods, these can erode the wetlands and cause their destruction
Drought

11. Threats to wetlands Anthropogenic 1.Development 2.Pollution
Draining out wetlands for construction
Damming them to form lakes or ponds
Diverting water flow
2.Pollution
3. Sand and gravel mining
Wetlands do hold water for a fairly long period of time, but prolonged drought can dry them up.
Overgrazing can leave wetlands open to soil erosion
Even though wetlands protect us from severe weather events such as hurricanes and floods, these can erode the wetlands and cause their destruction
Though wetlands act as a natural filter for polluted water, they can only absorb so much. Increased discharge of water that contains pesticide and fertilizer run-off as well as wastewater from homes and industry can pollute a wetland, sometimes to a point where it’s impossible to clean it up.
Warmer waters are more productive and this may increase algal growth in wetlands. Algal blooms can degrade water quality and kill aquatic life that otherwise thrives in this ecosystem.
Emissions of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen dissolve in rain and the resulting weak acids that are formed reduce the pH of rain. When this rainwater mixes with the water in wetlands over an extended period of time, the pH of the water in the wetland can reduce and this has an impact on the biodiversity that the wetland supports.
4. Global warming
5. Acid rain

12. Ramsar convention
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.

13. What can we do? DO A PROJECT SHOW IT TO YOUR CLASS
TALK TO THE OWNER OF A WETLAND
Take an initiative, talk to the owners of a wetland on preserving them.
ORGANIZE A FIELD TRIP
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

14. Hi! I’m the quiz master! Click on the button with the right answer.
Good luck!
Quiz master

15. Q. 1
Which of these is NOT a use of wetlands?
To clean the environment
Sedimentation of rocks
Swimming and other sports

16. The right answer is “Swimming and other water sports.”
Wrong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry!
The right answer is “Swimming and other water sports.”
Quiz master

17. Correct!!!!!!!!! Woohoo! That is right! Congratulations! Quiz master

18. Q. 2
Which fact about a wetland is right?
There is always shellfish in a wetland
A wetland is a low area where the land is filled with water
A wetland always has a pH level above 9.5

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

20. Correct!!!!!!!!! Woohoo! That is right! Congratulations! Quiz master

21. Q. 3
What is NOT a way to help increase awareness
about wetlands?
Do a project on wetlands
Organize a field trip to a wetland
Play games on the computer

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

23. Correct!!!!!!!!! Woohoo! That is right! Congratulations! Quiz master

24. Q. 4
What is a good pH level for a wetland?
4.0
7.5
9.5

25. “7.5” Wrong!!!!!!!!! Sorry! That is wrong! The right answer is “7.5”
Quiz master

26. “7.5” Correct!!!!!!!!! Woohoo! That is right! Congratulations!
Quiz master

27. Q. 5
Which one of these is NOT a type of wetland?
Marsh
Reservoir
Swimming pool

28. Wrong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry!
That is wrong! The right answer is “Swimming pool”
Quiz master

29. Correct!!!!!!!!! Woohoo! That is right! Congratulations! Quiz master

30. Activities Here is an activity you can do in class Step 1
Divide your class into groups of not more than 5 people each.
Step 2
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.
Step 3
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.

31. Facts
The water hyacinth is a plant
A wetland is always natural
The water should have a pH level between 6.5 and 8.5
Mangroves are groves of mango trees .
True
If the water is acidic then it is hard for animals to live
Wetlands always have salty water
False
Wetlands provide a good habitat for animals
4.0 is a good pH level for a wetland
These are just a few facts that you can use, why not try making some more?
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?

32. A word search on Ramsar sites in IndiaB A S I R O M T K V U L W D E P N G Z C X H Y J F Q
Find the following:
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?

33. A word search on Ramsar sites in India answers

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

35. http://upload. wikimedia