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National Wetland Conservation Programme
Guidelines for
Conservation and Management of Wetlands
In India


(Revised on 12.06.2009)



Conservation and Survey Division
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Government of India
New Delhi
June, 2009

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NATIONAL WETLAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMME (updated)

1. INTRODUCTION

Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment
and the associated plant and animal life. They occur where the water table is at or near
the surface of the land, or where the land is covered by water. Once treated as
transitional habitats or seral stages in succession from open water to land, the wetlands
are now considered to be distinct ecosystems with specific ecological characteristics,
functions and values.

Wetlands, natural and manmade, freshwater or brackish, provide numerous
ecological services. The density of birds, in particular, is an accurate indication of the
ecological health of a particular wetland. However, unsustainable use of wetlands
without reckoning of their assimilative capacity constitutes major threat to the
conservation and management of these vital biodiversity rich areas. Thus, restricting the
prospects of future generation to utilize the benefits of the ecosystem services provided
by these wetlands.

2. DEFINITION OF WETLANDS
According to most widespread definition, wetlands are defined as: “lands
transitional between terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems where the water table is usually at
or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water”.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands as: “areas of marsh, fen,
peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that
is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of
which at low tide does not exceed six metres”. In addition, for the purpose of protecting
co-herent sites, the Article 2.1 provides that wetlands to be included in the Ramsar List of
internationally important wetlands “may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent
to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide
lying within the wetlands”.

3. FUNCTIONS OF WETLANDS

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems. They directly or indirectly support
millions of people and provide goods and services to them. Various goods and services
provided by wetlands are as follows:
• Support all life forms through extensive food webs
• Habitat to aquatic flora and fauna, as well as numerous species of birds, including
migratory species.
• Filtration of sediments and nutrients from surface water
• Nutrients recycling
• Water purification
• Floods mitigation
• Maintenance of stream flow
• Ground water recharging