Wetlands Conservation and Restoration for Ecosystem Services and Halt Biodiversity Loss: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems that support diverse habitats and biodiversity and are known for its various ecosystem goods and services. About half of global wetlands have found to be lost, and the conditions of remaining wetlands are deteriorating due to natural as well as anthropogenic cause. The negative economic, social, and environmental significances of diminishing water quality in wetlands are one of the major issues of concern for degraded wetlands in India. Thus, it is imperative to emphasize on the restoration of the degraded wetlands along with the conservation and management of the existing wetlands since they are one of the most valuable and fragile components of the watershed. The present research strongly suggests the management practices for wetland conservation should be based on the traditional knowledge and resource uses that will eventually aid in fostering biodiversity and preserving key ecosystem services in cost-effective and sustainable way.