Wetland helps in supporting directly and indirectly millions of people in India including supply of clean water and food, fibre and raw materials. There are 19 different types of wetlands in India. It includes mangroves, high-altitude lakes, marshes and ponds. It covers an estimated 3 percent of India's land area. The wetlands are under threat from developmental activities and population pressure. Water pollution and dumping of waste are some of the major threats to wetlands and birds in India.
Wetlands are also important as resting sites for migratory birds. The conservation of wetland is important and essential in India for sustainable food production and availability of water for people and other creatures. Restoration of wetlands will be very difficult once it is used for other activities. There are many wetlands that have no legal status, they also need protection and conservation of them is also important.
Wetlands losses are happening due to deforestation in wetlands, agriculture, watersheds, depletion of ground water etc.
Wetlands in India occupy 58.2 million ha, including areas under wet paddy cultivation (Directory of Indian Wetlands).
Area Estimates of Wetlands of India (in million ha)
Area under paddy cultivation 40.9
Area suitable for fish culture 3.6
Area under capture fisheries (brackish and freshwater) 2.9
Mangroves 0.4
Estuaries 3.9
Backwater 3.5
Man-made impoundments 3.0
Rivers, including main tributaries (28,000 km)
Canals and irrigation channels (113,000 km)
Total Area of Wetlands(Excluding Rivers) 58.2
(Source: Directory of Asian Wetlands, IUCN, 1989)
Wetlands in India
Name Area
Ashtamudi Wetland Kerala (19/08/02)
Bhitarkanika Mangroves Orissa (19/08/02)
Bhoj Wetland Madhya Pradesh (19/08/02)
Chandra Taal Himachal Pradesh (08/11/05)
Chilika Lake Orissa (01/10/81)
Deepor Beel Assam (19/08/02)
East Calcutta Wetlands West Bengal (19/08/02)
Harike Wetland Punjab (23/03/90)
Hokersar Wetland Jammu and Kashmir (08/11/05)
Kanjli Wetland Punjab (22/01/02)
Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan (01/10/81)
Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh (19/08/02)
Loktak Lake Manipur (23/03/90)
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary Gujarat (24/09/12)
Point Calimere Wildlife and Tamil Nadu (19/08/02)
Bird Sanctuary
Pong Dam Lake Himachal Pradesh (19/08/02)
Renuka Wetland Himachal Pradesh (08/11/05) Ropar Punjab (22/01/02)
Rudrasagar Lake Tripura (08/11/05)
Sambhar Lake Rajasthan (23/03/90)
Sasthamkotta Lake Kerala (19/08/02)
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes Jammu and Kashmir (08/11/05)
Thrissur Kole Wetlands Kerala, (08/11/05)
Tsomoriri Jammu and Kashmir (19/08/02)
Upper Ganga River Uttar Pradesh (08/11/05)
(Brijghat to Narora Stretch)
Vembanad-Kol Wetland Kerala (19/08/02)
Wular Lake Jammu and Kashmir (23/03/90)