South Chennai

Summary

The Paper deals with the damage that is being wrecked on the Ecologically sensitive and beneficial wetlands. The setting of the study is in the South of the Metropolis of Chennai.

These Wetlands are being eaten up by the rampant urban sprawl and unscientific solid waste disposal. The study aims at creating awareness for these rich havens of bio-diversity. Remote Sensing and Geographic information systems have been integrated to analyse the extent of damage caused to the ecologically sensitive and essential wetlands. Water quality analysis and Socio-economic surveys were carried out. It also suggests a Management Plan and hopes that this work would go a long way in the reclamation of this bountiful resource base.

Introduction

It is a known fact that the earth was upon a time all covered by water and most of the areas remained undrained well into the modern times (Purseglove 1988). In the age of rampant growth, the wetlands have been often associated with disease and hostile waters. However the natives have along understood and cherished the importance of these very wetlands and have a lifestyle that is closely interwoven with that of the wetlands. Integrated studies using modern science techniques on wetlands, as ecosystems are primarily a phenomenon of the past 25 years, although the development of the basic ecological concepts related to wetlands can be traced back much further (some textual facts date back to the sixteenth century). This paper is an attempt to understand that link and its need for the present age.

Ramsar Convention

Since the signing of the international convention on wetlands at Ramsar (1971), there have been national and international coordination of efforts for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. With 130 contracting parties and 1111 wetland sites with approximate areal coverage of 87.72 million hectares, it has a global presence today. 

Definition of a Wetland (Ramsar 1971)

The Ramsar convention states that the wetlands are 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.

Ecosystem

An ecosystem is defined as place having unique physical features, encompassing air, water, and land, and habitats supporting plant and animal life (EPA2003). An example of protecting an ecosystem is the watershed approach in which all pollution sources and habitat conditions in a watershed are considered in developing strategies for restoring and maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Similar scientific approaches are needed for the upkeep of the existing wetlands, which are havens of biodiversity. These techniques would support plant, animal, and aquatic life through a combination of regulatory and voluntary programs designed to reduce the amount of pollutants entering their environment

Wetlands - Importance / Threats/ Scope