World Wetlands Day 2019; Re-visiting Ramsar 1971

Dr Maibam Dhanaraj Meitei *

Beautiful landscape of Loktak Lake as seen in February 2018 :: Pix - Oken Luwang

At Ramsar (Iran), in the year 1971 (2nd February), the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (or the Convention on Wetlands), was adopted,
recognising the interdependence of man and his environment;
considering the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands as regulators of water regimes and as habitats supporting a characteristic flora and fauna, especially waterfowl;
being convinced that wetlands constitute a resource of great economic, cultural, scientific and recreational value, the loss of which would be irreparable;
desiring to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future; recognising that waterfowl in their seasonal migrations may transcend frontiers and so should be regarded as an international resource;
and being confident that the conservation of wetlands and their flora and fauna can be ensured by combining far-sighted national policies with co-ordinated international action
(Ramsar, 1971 text).

For the purpose of this Convention, 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. The convention became effective by 1975 with seven contracting parties, which gradually increased in number to 170 countries by 2018 and with more than 2341 Ramsar sites today covering a total surface area of 252,479,417 ha, spreading across the continents.

Wetlands are selected for the List of Wetlands of International Importance or Ramsar sites on account of their international importance, established on the basis of ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological or hydrological criteria.

A wetland is identified as being of International Importance if it fits into any of the criteria, such as;
if it is a particularly good representative example of a natural or near natural wetland, characteristics of the appropriate biogeographical region, or,
if it a particularly good representative example of a wetland, which plays a substantial hydrological, biological or ecological role in the natural functioning of a major river basin or coastal system, especially where it is located in a trans-border position, or,
it supports an appreciable assemblage of rare, vulnerable or endangered species or subspecies of plant or animal, or an appreciable number of individuals of any type or more of these species, or,
if it is of special value as the habitat of plants or animals at a critical stage of their biological stage, or,
if it is of special value for one or more endemic plant or animal species or communities, or,
if it regularly supports 20,000 waterfowl, or,
if it regularly supports one percent of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterfowl etc.

Together with the obligation to designate a wetland of international importance for the Ramsar List, the second major obligation accepted by Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention is to make "wise use" of their wetlands. After considerable concentration on listed wetlands in the Convention's early years, the concept of wise use began to obtain greater importance, particularly as more developing countries became Contracting Parties.

This was particularly striking at the Regina meeting (1987), that set out the criteria for identifying wetlands of international importance (mentioned above) and defined wise use, together with guidelines on how to implement wise use. The wise use of wetlands is their sustainable utilization for the benefit of humankind in a way compatible with the maintenance of the natural properties of the ecosystem.

The Regina definition further defined sustainable utilization and natural properties of the ecosystem. Sustainable utilization is defined as human use of a wetland so that it may yield the greatest continuous benefit to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. Natural properties of the ecosystem are defined as those physical, biological or chemical components, such as soil, water, plants, animals and nutrients, and the interactions between them.

As wetlands not only serve as refuge of waterfowls, also its natural properties provide a number of ecosystem services – the benefits people obtain from the ecosystem. They cover, flood control, groundwater replenishment, shoreline stabilisation & storm protection, sediment & nutrient retention and export, water purification, reservoirs of biodiversity, wetland products, cultural values, recreation & tourism, and climate change mitigation & adaptation.

Since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat have reached out to the world providing awareness about the Importance of the Wetlands and celebrated the World Wetlands Day on 2nd February of every calendar year with various thought provoking themes, viz.
the First World Wetlands Day (1997),
Water for wetlands, wetlands for water (1998),
People and wetlands – The vital link (1999),
Celebrating Our Wetlands of International Importance (2000),
Wetland world – A world to discover (2001),
Wetlands: Water, Life, and Culture (2002),
No wetlands – no water (2003),
From the mountains to the sea — Wetlands at work for us (2004),
There's wealth in wetland diversity – don't lose it (2005),
Livelihoods at risk (2006),
Fish for tomorrow? (2007),
Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People (2008),
River basins and their management (2009),
Wetlands, biodiversity and climate change (2010),
Wetlands and forests (2011),
Wetlands and tourism (2012),
Wetlands and water management (2013),
Wetlands and agriculture (2014),
Wetlands for our Future (2015),
Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods (2016),
Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction (2017),
Wetlands for a sustainable urban future (2018), and
Wetlands and Climate Change (2019).

India became a contracting party to the convention by 1982 (1st February), with two Ramsar sites, viz. Chilka lake and Keoladeo National park, declared on 01-10-1981. Today, India has 27 Ramsar sites, with a total surface area of 1,112,131 hectares, and the latest being the Sunderban wetland, declared as a Wetland of International Importance on 1st February 2019.

Among the Ramsar sites, India also has two sites (Loktak lake and Keoladeo National Park) in the Montreux records list of the convention. The Montreux Record is the principal tool of the Convention for highlighting those sites where an adverse change in ecological character has occurred, is occurring, or is likely to occur, and which are therefore in need of priority conservation attention.

Loktak lake, Manipur designated as a Wetland of International Importance on 23rd March 1990, is an important source of water, fisheries and vegetation providing sustenance to a large population that depend on the lake resources for their sustenance. The wetland with its islands and surrounding floating phoomdi of different shapes and sizes makes it a unique destination for tourism.

Not only does Loktak is socio economically intertwined with the locals, it serves as refuge for a number of migratory waterfowls, and supports a number of fauna and flora, but also is the only natural home for the endangered endemic population of Sangai or Brow Antlered deer (Rucervus eldi eldi McClelland).

Today, when the world is celebrating the World Wetlands Day, Loktak is being reminded of its 25 plus years of inclusion in the Montreux records (16th June 1993). Since these 25 years, the ecological status of the wetland hasn't improved so that it can be withdrawn from the list of ecologically degrading wetlands. The fast growing human population is mounting its heavy toll on the ecosystem of Loktak and the wetland is trying its best to adapt to the changing environment created by the man.

It has been long that the "Mirror of Manipur", as referred by the locals, "Loktak na mingshelni", is dying slowly in front of us, the Manipuri's. Today is the right day to start sharing our views, make plans, help one another, and create an ecofriendly environment so that the dying wetland can breathe and recover.

If we don't do our bit of duty and dedicate to fulfill our responsibility, then it wouldn't be long, when the coming generations of Manipur will see Loktak's beautiful glory only in the painting and photographs, and for this generation, in our memory.