Wetlands Management Planning Methodology Manual for Indian Managers

January 2013, Version 1.0

Wetlands International South Asia

Prepared under the World Bank Technical Assistance: Wetland Management: Integrated Planning for Kabar Taal Restoration and Building Capacity for Wetland Management in Bihar

For information on this publication contact:

Wetlands International – South Asia A – 25, Second Floor, Defence Colony New Delhi – 110024, INDIA Email: [email protected]

Document Reference : 2013 – Kanwar - 01

Disclaimer : The presentation of material in this document and geographical designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion of whatsoever nature on the part of Wetlands International South Asia concerning the legal status of any country, area, or territory, or concerning delimitation of boundaries or frontiers. Usual disclaimers apply.

Cover Photograph : Kaabar Taal, Bihar

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Contents

1. Introduction ...... 3 2. Wetland Management ...... 4 2.1 Wetlands ...... 4 2.2 Wise Use of Wetlands ...... 4 2.3 Functions of Wetland Management ...... 5 2.4 Wetland Management Planning Principles ...... 6 3. Wetland Management Planning Methodology ...... 8 3.1 Preamble ...... 9 3.2 Description of wetland features ...... 10 3.2.1 Location and extent ...... 10 3.2.2 Catchments ...... 11 3.2.3 Hydrological regimes ...... 13 3.2.4 Biodiversity ...... 15 3.2.5 Ecosystem Services ...... 16 3.2.6 Socioeconomics and livelihoods ...... 17 3.2.7 Institutional regimes ...... 19 3.3 Wetland evaluation...... 20 3.3.1 Status and trends in ecological character ...... 20 3.3.2 Identification of priority features ...... 21 3.3.3 Threats to ecological character ...... 21 3.4 Setting management objectives ...... 22 3.4.1 Defining management planning framework ...... 22 3.4.2 Defining management objectives ...... 23 3.4.3 Setting performance indicators and monitoring plan ...... 24 3.5 Defining action plan ...... 26 4. Format for Compiling Management Plan ...... 30 5. Glossary ...... 33

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1. Introduction

Wetlands are invaluable natural asset the drivers of their degradation operate at endowments playing a central role in ensuring multiple scales. With water being the our food and water security. They provide dominant constituent, integration of wetlands natural infrastructure that can help meet a within the river basin and coastal zone level range of policy objectives. Beyond water landscape planning is most crucial. The plan availability and quality, they are invaluable in also needs to be diagnostic in nature rather supporting climate change mitigation and than symptom centric and prescriptive. adaption, support health as well as livelihoods, local development and poverty eradication. This guidance has been prepared for the wetland managers to assist in developing Despite their values and the potential policy integrated management plans. It focuses on synergies, wetlands have been, and continue application of an integrated methodology to to be, lost or degraded. As per estimates, since assist systematic identification of 1900, the world has lost around 50% of its management objectives and an action plan wetlands. Recent coastal wetland loss in some using results based mechanisms to setting places, notably East Asia, has been up to 1.6% goal, outcomes and outputs. The existing a year, and is on-going. It is estimated that guidelines of Ramsar Convention on wetland nearly one third of Indian wetlands have been management planning as well as wise use lost and converted for alternate uses since the handbooks have been used to develop the last three decades. This has triggered various sections. Examples from Indian biodiversity loss, changes to ecological wetlands have been used to illustrate functions, and changes to ecosystem service application of concepts. flows with subsequent impacts on the health, livelihoods and wellbeing of communities and economic activity.

Integrated wetland management, recognizing their intersectoral linkages is a key response strategy to stem this loss. By systematically identifying objectives and outcomes, management planning process helps identify optimal intervention strategies and actions for conservation of wetlands, in particular, providing for judicious application of scarce human as well as financial resources. Wetlands, being at the interface of land and water, require specialized approaches to management. Conventional protected area approaches as applicable to terrestrial ecosystems are not sufficient for wetlands as

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2. Wetland Management

2.1 Wetlands Vegetation: Hydrophytic, adapted to wet conditions. Wetlands are areas wherein water plays a dominant role in controlling the environment Inundation: Presence of water, permanently or and associated plant and animal life. They seasonally. occur at places where water covers, or is at or near the surface of land. Given a wide span of the ecosystem types considered as wetlands, and often a lack of There are several definitions of wetlands, with specific boundaries, it is hard to discern the most broad and generically used being the exact area under wetlands. The global extent one adopted by Ramsar Convention. Under the of wetlands is estimated to be in excess of 1.2 Convention text, wetlands are defined as: million square kilometres, but it is well established that this is an underestimate. The “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, most recent assessment of the wetland extent whether natural or artificial, permanent or of India was published in the 2011, based on temporary, with water that is static or remote sensing images of 2006-07. The flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including overall wetland area was assessed to be 15.26 areas of marine water the depth of which million hectare of which inland wetlands at low tide does not exceed six meters” accounted for 69.22% (10.56 million hectare). Rivers, streams and reservoir / barrages form Natural wetlands can be broadly classified the major types within inland wetlands. into:
marine (coastal wetlands, lagoons and 2.2 Wise Use of Wetlands coral reefs)
estuarine (deltas, tidal marshes, and Wetlands are one of the most productive mangrove swamps) environments. The aquatic environment and
lacustrine ( lakes and associated high primary productivity enables them to wetlands) support a range of biodiversity, in particular
riverine ( wetlands associated with high concentration of birds, mammals, rivers) amphibians, fish and invertebrate species.
palustrine ( marshes, swamps and Wetland ecosystems support human well- bogs) being by providing food and fiber, water purification, climate regulation, flood In addition, there are human-made wetlands regulation, coastal protection, recreational as fish and shrimp ponds, irrigated agricultural opportunities and tourism. The principal land, salt pans, reservoirs, and canals. The supply of renewable freshwater for human use definition covers lakes and rivers, irrespective comes from an array of wetlands, including of their depth. Knowledge of wetland type lakes, rivers and swamps. Fish from wetlands is provides a very generic sense of the processes an important source of animal protein for which govern the wetland system. A riverine several developing economies. wetland therefore has several of its features and functions linked to riverine processes, for Wetlands are unique in these sense that they example flow conditions, habitat connectivity, are one of the most embedded and interlinked inundation regime etc. ecosystems with human livelihoods. Management of wetlands therefore needs to Predominant environmental characteristics recognize human beings as a part of the of wetlands ecosystem, and some level of use and harvest of products as a part of the processes which Hydric soils: Soil that is saturated, flooded or are bound to take place. Thus, conventional ponded long enough favouring anaerobic protected area led management approaches, conditions. which exclude humans and use of natural resource, are unsuitable for managing a large 4

category of wetlands. It is under these pretexts Page

that the Ramsar Convention recommends for resolving conflicts through a adoption of “wise use” principles as stakeholder driven process and management approach. establishing commitments for the future.

Wise use of wetlands involves their
Communication with stakeholders sustainable utilization for the benefit of An important function of management humankind in a way compatible with plan is to enable communication between maintenance of natural properties of the various stakeholder groups. Management ecosystem. The Ramsar Convention Text plan and the planning process are means defines wise use as: of presenting information on various site features and the governing factors in a “The maintenance of their ecological structured manner, thereby enabling a character within the context of common understanding of wetland sustainable development, and achieved conditions and trends. By enabling through implementation of ecosystem participation in various stages of planning, approaches.” the management plan provides opportunities for stakeholders to express Ecological character is the “sum of their vision of wise use, and also the way components, processes, and services of management decisions are likely to affect that characterize the wetland at any them. Finally, it is a means of collective given point in time”. ownership of wetland resources as a Ecological character therefore is a key societal good. instrument for wetland management. Changes in status of ecological character provide
Defining monitoring requirements insights into the efficiency of wetland Wetland management plan, by management. Human induced adverse determining the features and governing changes in ecological character need to be factors, also help set the monitoring continuously monitored and prevented. requirements for a site. For each of the management objectives, identification of 2.3 Functions of Wetland performance indicators helps determine Management the monitoring system and infrastructure that is required to assess the change ( for example, a series of strategically placed
Identification of objectives of site water quality sampling stations to assess management the biological and chemical quality of Wetland management plans help water). determine the objectives of site

management. This gives a sense of
Building baseline direction to wetland managers on the Management plans builds on a set of purpose, objectives, and outcomes that information that is available at the given are expected to be achieved through the point in time. Thus the process builds a management process. The degrees to baseline on various wetland features and which management objectives are met governing factors. This also enables indicate management effectiveness. assessing changes in ecological character,

and ultimately supporting adaptive
Resolving conflicts management. Baseline creation provides Wetlands, being multiple use in character important incentives to researchers who are often linked with conflicts, especially can meaningfully contribute to the review in systems wherein the range of and adaptation of the plan. ecosystems service is broad and the

community dependence on wetlands high.
Obtaining resources In certain cases, the institutional Management planning entails assessing

arrangements linked with wetland resources (financial as well as human)

resources are not clearly defined. 5 required for implementation. This Management planning provides a platform information can be used to raise and Page

allocate resources. As a matter of fact, a Additionally, the management plan for the good proportion of resources required for wetland should be harmonized with that of the implementing management plans in our landscape. This applies both to developmental country can be met by creating synergies as well as conservation planning. with ongoing government programmes, for example Total Sanitation Campaign, Rural Adaptable management Employment Guarantee etc. Given the range of drivers and pressures that act on a wetland at multiple spatial, temporal
Insure compliance with regulatory and political scales, management planning frameworks and policy commitments needs to be prepared for and accommodative There are a range of international, national of uncertainties and challenges. This can be and local level policy commitments that achieved by using an adaptable management need to be kept in mind while developing approach, which allows for suitable the management plan. Similarly, the modification of management based on management also needs to demonstrate continuous site monitoring and assessment of compliance to regulatory frameworks. new information. An adaptable management Wetland management plans are key process includes the following steps: (Fig. 1) instruments through which the nodal authority can identify specific actions to
Setting management objectives for meet the various national and local various site features commitments and compliance to
Implementing management plans to regulatory frameworks. achieve the objectives
Monitoring wetland features to assess 2.4 Wetland Management Planning the degree to which management Principles objectives are being met
Modifying management if the wetland features do not meet the set Landscape management management objectives Wetlands are embedded in a landscape. Several of their features (for example Precautionary approach availability of water) are related to the In several instances, the ability of feature to elements as forests and agricultural land sustain human use cannot be determined which determine the runoff. Management of offhand due to lack of information. In such wetlands therefore is linked to management of circumstances, as is the practise in other the landscape within which it sits, for example spheres of ecosystem management, use of river basin, lake basin or coastal zone. precautionary principle is recommended. This

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Fig. 1: Adaptable Management Cycle

means that lack of full scientific uncertainty identifying priorities, evaluating features and should not be used as a reason to postpone modifying management based on measures to prevent ecological degradation. interpretation and incorporation of new information. Process driven The ability of a plan to meet all site Stakeholder participation and inclusion management objectives is influenced by The condition of any wetland feature or a set availability of information as well as resources. of features is often an outcome of actions by a Management planning should therefore be range of stakeholders, which are linked to the considered as a process, with the plan wetland in a number of ways. Management gradually getting complex from a minimal planning therefore needs to recognize these version to the one meeting all site linkages, and build a mechanism for management requirements as resources and participation of stakeholders in design, review information become available. Management and implementation processes planning therefore is a continuous exercise of

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3. Wetland Management Planning Methodology

The wetland management planning The management planning methodology methodology is a logical process enabling site comprises five interlinked steps (Fig. 2): managers to identify onjectives and an implementation strategy required for ensuring 1. DEFINING PREAMBLE : providing the policy wise use of the site. Building on a systematic context of the management planning analysis of wetland features and governing 2. WETLAND DESCRIPTION : collating and factors, the methodology enables synthesizing available information development of a multi-sectoral and 3. EVALUATION : identifying key wetland integrated work programme to balance the features and linked threats goals of ecosystem conservation with that of 4. SETTING MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND supporting livelihoods of wetland dependent PERFORMANCE INDICATORS : for the priority communities. It also explicitly connects the features and reviewing effectiveness of site management plan to developmental management planning as well as the broad scale landscape 5. DEVELOPING ACTION PLAN: outlining specific and ecosystem planning (for example, river projects, resources required and basin planning). institutional arrangements for implementation

Fig. 2 : Management Planning Framework for Wetlands (Source : Ramsar Handbook 14)

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3.1 Preamble

The preamble section of management plan is a likely to be detrimental for wetland. A Wetland concise policy statement that reflects the Regulatory Authority has been constituted for commitment of national and state the purpose of enforcement of the rules, to governments, non-government agencies, determine the proposals sent by the state communities and other stakeholders for governments and set thresholds for activities wetland management. This section is aimed at to be regulated. The state governments have describing the overall purpose and an been entrusted with the task of identification overarching policy context to management of wetlands to be included under the ambit of planning. the act. Conservation of coastal wetlands, as mangroves and coral reefs are included in The Policy context of wetland conservation in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, India 1991 (as amended in 2011).

International : India as a Contracting Party to State: State governments have also enacted Ramsar Convention is committed to ensuring rules for conservation and management of wise use of wetlands within its territory. The wetlands within their jurisdiction. The national government is also committed to Government of Manipur notified the Manipur implementation of the 2011-2020 Strategic Loktak Lake (Protection) Act, 2006 and Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Rules, 2008 several Targets of which make direct and which define a core zone and buffer zone, and indirect references to wetlands, particularly stipulate specific activities that can be their role in maintenance of hydrological permitted within these designated areas. regimes. Under the commitments under Similarly, the East Kolkata Wetlands Convention on Migratory Species (also known (Conservation and Management) Act, 2006 as the Bonn Convention, sites hosting restricts changes in land uses, diminution of migratory species (for example migratory wetland area, change in ecological character waterbirds) need to be managed in a way that and provides the legal framework for East there are no threats to these species and their Kolkata Wetland Management Authority for habitats. enforcement of the Act.

National: The National Environment Policy The government of Orissa is in advanced (2006) recommends adoption of integrated stages of introducing a bill in its legislative approaches, specifically river basin assembly which would empower the Chilika management and site specific prudent use as Development Authority to regulate guiding actions for management of wetlands. detrimental fishing, amongst various other In 2010, the central government introduced stipulations. The Orissa Marine Fisheries The Wetland (Conservation and Management) Regulation Act (OMFRA, 1982) bans several Rules, 2010 under the The Environment forms of fishing in Chilika. In Kerala, the (Protection) Act, 1986. Its coverage rules Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, include Ramsar sites, high altitude wetland 2008, is one of the few examples wherein rice sites ( wetlands located at an altitude of 2,500 paddies are considered as wetlands and their m and above) with area greater than 5 ha, sites conversion banned. The Guwahati Water or complexes below 2,500 m with an area of Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Bill of 500 ha and above, those designated as World 2008 empowers the government to preserve Heritage Sites, and those specifically included wetlands and acquire peripheral areas for under the provisions of the rules. The rules protection of waterbodies. prescribe regulations for a range of activities

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3.2 Description of wetland features

Description of wetland features is essentially a waterspread of the wetland system is known collation and synthesis of existing data and to vary significantly; a minimum of three information. This step provides the basic images of a normal monsoon year (post foundation of identifying management monsoon, monsoon and pre monsoon) should objectives and building the action plan. The be used to prepare the map. Standard features of wetlands that need to be focused procedures for geo-referencing and ground include location and extent, wetland truthing must be followed. catchments, hydrological regimes, biodiversity, ecosystem services, socio-economics and While reporting information on wetland area livelihoods and institutional mechanisms. and extent, it is useful to focus on the range of variation rather than presenting averages (for 3.2.1 Location and extent example, Lake Chilika is known to vary between a monsoon maximum of 1,165 km 2 Location and extent provide the information and a dry season minimum of 906 km 2 is much on the size and geographic situation of the better way of presenting information than wetland within the landscape. This section saying Lake Chilika has an average area of should be based on a map with atleast the 1,041 km 2 ). following features: Things to remember while preparing wetland
Waterspread (areas under permanent and map seasonal inundation)
Inflows , outflows and connectivity with  Use a scale wherein the hydrological rivers and coastal zones connectivity with the wetland complex
Hydraulic structures (dams, barrages, and river / coastal zone can be clearly sluices etc.) displayed
Vegetation ( both within as well as around  Show areas under permanent and the wetland) seasonal inundation clearly
Land use around the wetland  Show vegetation within as well as around
Physical features (islands, roads, railways, the wetland system major towns / settlements, fish jetties etc.)  Show land use and land cover of the entire
Protected areas (for example boundaries region of notified sanctuary, heritage sites etc.)

Use of remote sensing imageries of adequate resolution is recommended. Since,

Box 1: Mapping Wular Lake, Kashmir

Wular Lake, a Ramsar site located in Kashmir is a freshwater lake of River Jhelum Basin. The river flows through the lake to form a wide expense of water, finally taking off the bottom to flow downstream into River Indus. The map of the wetland, drawn using remote sensing LISS III images and ground truthing shows the lake as girdled by willow plantations and embankments. It also shows agriculture land located around the inflowing streams. Of particular relevance are the marshes, which alognwith the Wular play a role in regulating hydrological regimes by absorbing high

flows in summer and releasing them gradually during lean seasons of winter 10 Page

3.2.2 Catchments
Altitudinal zonation: Altitudinal zonation of the wetland catchments is important The next stage of wetland description is means to explain variation in describing the catchment area which environmental conditions (for example influences its hydrological regimes and key precipitation) which directly or indirectly processes as nutrient enrichment and affect the wetland system. The zonation sedimentation. should be based on observation recorded in meters above mean sea level. This A wetland catchment is the region which information is normally available through drains into the wetland. A large catchment has topographic maps, orthophotographs, and smaller sub-catchments formed by drainage national and regional land survey or area of contributing streams and tributaries. mapping services. Digital elevation Description of catchments should be based on models (DEM) are useful tools for the following features: undertaking and presenting altitudinal zonations for wetland catchments.
Geology and Geomorphology: Geology and geomorphology describe the landform
Soil types: The state of soils within within which the catchment is located. wetland catchments has direct as well as There are atleast six landforms types that indirect influence on wetland processes as determine the occurrence of wetlands, sedimentation and nutrient enrichment. and whilst they are intergradational, it is The dominant soil types within catchment important to describe the entire landform need to be described using soil maps and in which the habitat/site is located and not reports. Key elements to focus are just parts of it (Table 1). erodibility status and waterlogged areas. The FAO soil classification Table 1. Categories of landforms that are host (http://www.fao.org/nr/land/soils ) is the to wetlands most commonly used system for naming Landform Definition soils. Harmonised World Soil Database can also be used to develop soil maps. Basin Basins are depressed areas in

the landscape with no
Climate settings: Climate settings of the external drainage. They may wetland catchment can be described using be shallow or deep and may information on precipitation, temperature, have flat or concave bottoms. wind speed and direction, and relative They usually have clear humidity. If climatic characteristics are defined margins. described based on information sourced Channels Channels refer to any incised from existing meteorological stations, it is water course. They may be recommended to record the name, code shallow or deep but always and geographic location of the station have clear defined margins. (latitude and longitude) which will enable Flats Flats are landscapes with a spatial visualisation of the data. slope less than 1%, little or no relief, and diffused
Land use and Land cover: Land use margins. Flat can be incised describes the human utilisation of land by a channel thereby giving (agriculture, settlement, aquaculture etc). rise to term ‘channelled flats’. Land cover is the description of physical Slopes Slopes are areas with a features on the surface of earth (forest, gradient of greater than 1%, river, mountains, lakes etc). An analysis of which may be concave or land use and land cover, as well as land convex. use and land cover change provides Crest of hills Crests of hills or highlands important information on condition and or highlands are generally convex areas on trends of various wetland features. the top of mountains, hills or

similarly raised areas. 11

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Box 2: Case Study: Land Use and Land Cover Change Assessment in Lake Chilika Basin The Land use land cover change assessment for Lake Chilika Basin has been done based on available remote sensing information. The base layers have been developed from Survey of India topographical maps. The analysis has been done over a period of four decades. The images used for analysis pertain to 1972 (Landsat-1 MSS digital image of 7 November, 60 m spatial resolution), 1990 (Landsat-5 TM digital image of 28 November, 30 m spatial resolution) and 2011 (IRS P6 LISS-3 digital image of 19 January, 23.5 m spatial resolution). These have been digitally enhanced in ERDAS Imagine for interpretation. Along with these images, few other images from other seasons during nearby years have also been referred for validation of interpreted layers. During interpretation of 1972 image the SOI topographical maps have been referred for field level validations as they have been developed based survey during 1970-71. The digital cum visual interpretation techniques have been used in this mapping coupled with limited field verification, which ensures supervised classification as the interpreter holds the experience of field visit.

The analysis indicates that during the last four decades, the most significant land use / land cover change has been in forests and agricultural lands. Dense forests have been mostly converted into open forests. Similarly, agricultural lands have been converted into settlements (147.79 km 2) and aquaculture (13.28 km 2). Available trends indicate intensification of agriculture, as indicated by increase in are under irrigation, chemical fertilizer use, and crop productivity. The population density of the basin has also increased from 379 – 559 persons per square km during 1971 – 2001 as compared to 140 – 236 persons per square km within the state of Odisha. Within the area under Chilika shoreline, there is an increase in area under aquatic vegetation as well as aquaculture. A transformation of areas under seasonally flooded agriculture to marshes is also indicated in the analysis. (Source: Chilika Integrated Management Planning Framework for Conservation and Wise Use, 2012)

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3.2.3 Hydrological regimes Table 2: Inundation patterns

Hydrological regimes set the template on Inundation Definition which the biodiversity and ecosystem services pattern of wetlands are structured. A description of Permanently Areas where land surface hydrological regimes is based on water inflow inundated is permanently covered and outflow patterns, inundation, bathymetry, with standing water quality and use within the basin. (except in years of extreme drought)
Water inflow, outflow and balance : An Seasonally Areas where land surface assessment of water inflow and outflow inundated is semi- permanently and balance indicates the water that is flooded; when surface stored into the wetland, and provides water is absent; water information on hydrological functioning, table is at or near surface including flood control and groundwater Intermittently Areas where the land recharge. It also indicates water inundated surface is temporarily availability for human as well as flooded; surface water is ecosystem purposes. The water balance present for a brief period can be estimated through hydrological during the year but water models based on flow measurements. table is otherwise well below the soil surface Water balance of a wetland can be Seasonally water Areas where land surface summarized by the following equation: logged is saturated for extended dV = P + Qi + Gi – Ei – Qo ± T ± H periods but surface water is seldom present where, dV is the change in volume of water within the wetland Box 3: Hydroperiod of Loktak Lake, Manipur P is the precipitation directly on the wetland Qi is the river and other surface water inputs into the wetland Gi is the groundwater input into the wetland Ei is the evapotranspiration from the water surface, vegetation and soils of wetland Qo is the surface outflow from the wetland Go is the groundwater recharge from the wetland T is the tidal input (negative when output) H is the human influence (+ when input and – when abstraction) The lake levels of Loktak Lake shows a gradual
Inundation: Inundation pattern can be increase during monsoon and then a gradual best characterized with a hydroperiod, decline with a difference of around 2 meters. which indicates the pattern of water level This difference provides the much needed fluctuation in the wetland. This is water storage within the lake, used for developed based on water level hydropower production. Comparison with information from various stations within older water level records indicates that there the wetland. In large wetland systems, it is has been a drastic reduction in lake level likely to have different hydroperiods for fluctuation. The other important thing to note different stations, and therefore best to is the variation in lake levels at different points in the lake. The lake levels at power

represent through a set of figures rather than just one. Inundation pattern are best channel dip faster than other parts of the lake.

represented spatially, and can be 13 classified as in Table 2. Page

Sedimentation : Wetlands often serve as should be provided to have sinks of sediments, which plays an comprehensive information on water important role in their natural succession. quality. Table 3 contains ranges related to Aggravated silt loads, however, can have some water quality parameters that can be serious negative implications on their used to characterize the wetland. hydrological functioning and ecosystem services. Assessment of overall rates of Table 3: Range of selected water quality sedimentation and pattern of sediment parameters distribution are important hydrological regime information. Correlated with pH Very strongly acidic (1.0-2.9) information on bathymetric profile and Strongly acidic (3.0-3.9) land use and land cover change, Acidic ( 4.0-4.9) information on sediment can be used to Weakly acidic (5.0-6.5) identify as well as monitor the impacts of Neutral (6.6-7.5) catchment conservation programmes. Weakly alkaline (7.6 – 8.5) Information on sedimentation are usually Alkaline (8.6 – 9.9) available through specific hydrological Strongly alkaline (10 – 11.5) investigations. Very strongly alkaline (11.5+) Salinity Freshwater (<0.5)
Groundwater: The relationship between (ppt) Brackish (0.5-18.0) wetlands and groundwater is complex. Semi-saline(18.0-30.0) Many wetlands exist because an Saline (30.0-40.0) impermeable layer of rock or soil restricts Hyper-saline (40-100) vertical movement of water. However, Ultra-saline (>100) some wetlands arise where groundwater Nutrients Oligotrophic (N=250 – 600: P =5- comes to surface as springs. Furthermore, (µgm/l) 10) several wetland types as floodplains exist Mesotrophic (N=500 – 1000: on very permeable soil which replenishes P=10-30) groundwater. The hydrological linkages of Eutrophic (N=1000-2000:P=30- wetlands with groundwater vary 100) depending on the local conditions. It is Hypereutrophic (N>2000: P>100) therefore important that the known information on groundwater is described and relationships, if established through specific studies, included in the overall
Water use: The availability of water to the description. wetland is linked to water use pattern within basin. Human uses of water can
Water Quality: Water quality information often conflict with requirements for provide insight on wetland health with maintaining ecosystem processes. Water special reference to stressors such as level needs for irrigation, hydropower or of nutrients/ toxicants, sediment inputs, domestic use within a basin is often met acidification, salinisation, heavy metal through construction of hydraulic input. Water physico-chemical quality can structures, which impact the natural be collated from available literature or regimes of the basin. Fragmentation of measured using standard procedures as landscapes through hydraulic structures is that of American Public Health one of the major reasons of degradation of Association, 1998. Wherever possible, the wetlands, worldwide. It is therefore source of contributing nutrients (fertilisers important that the water use pattern in agricultural land, sewage outfalls etc), within the wetland system is documented toxicants (mining, industrial effluents) and systematically, and the implications sedimentation (cropland, catchment assessed for the wetland system. degradation) should be provided. In addition to these, information on waste water discharge, point or non-point source 14 of polluters, indicating specific pollutant Page

3.2.4 Biodiversity

Description of floral and faunal biodiversity needs to capture the condition and trends, habitat utilization, process that maintain the populations, and threats.

Species richness and diversity A list of species associated with the site with record of species richness and diversity of the main floral and faunal taxonomic groups should be compiled The population size of species or abundance can also be recorded with information on average abundance during different seasons. Breeding populations and migratory populations and their breeding and migratory periods, as well as required environmental conditions may need to be elaborated for groups wherein migration plays important role in maintaining Fig. 3: IUCN conservation status categories population (for ex. Birds and fish). Biological significance of habitat For floral diversity, a listing of species as well Along with recording information on as growth strategy (annual, perennial, biodiversity, it is important to assess the seasonal), form (terrestrial, aquatic) and biological significance of the habitat, for structural type (grasses, herbs, sedges, shrubs, example use by a number of waterbird ferns, palms and trees) can be described. For species, presence of endemic species etc. aquatic species (plants that have vegetative parts seasonally or permanently inundated) Assessing biological significance of habitats type can be presented as emergent, needs attention, particularly in cases wherein submerged or free floating vegetation, and the site is or is proposed to be designated as a areas presented in maps. Vegetation cover can Wetland of International Importance (Ransar be presented as either peripheral (only on Site). Presently, the Convention acknowledges margins of wetland), mosaic (present in nine criteria for site designation, eight of patches), peripheral as well as mosaic or which relate to waterbirds and fish species complete. Current status of species and their (Table 4). The population estimates of trends overtime need to be discussed to waterbirds that meet the criteria of understand the process of succession and internationally important sites can be occupancy of vacant niches. determined by using ‘Waterbird Populations Estimates’ available from Wetlands Conservation status International. The conservation status of wetland species can be assessed using the IUCN Red List (for assessed species). For fish species, the web portal of Fishbase can be used. Similarly, the UNEP-WCMC Threatened Plants Database contains information on status of plant species of conservation significance throughout the world. Anecdotal evidences on historical declines are also important information base to assessing conservation status.

Information on conservation status should 15 also include discussion on the threats. Page

Table 4: Ramsar criteria for site designation Invasion

Ramsar Description Biological invasion is referred to a Criterion phenomenon wherein a species enters new Criteria 1 A representative, rare, or environment, establishes itself there and unique example of a natural or begins to change the populations of species near-natural wetland type that existed there before, as well as disturbing found within the appropriate the balance of plant and animal communities. biogeographic region Invasiveness, or the propensity to become invasive under a range of ideal conditions and Criteria 2 Supports vulnerable, ecosystems, can be attributed to a range or endangered, or critically combination of characteristics of organisms, endangered species or which include: a) capacity for rapid growth threatened ecological (and thereby expansion); b) capacity to communities disburse widely; c) large reproductive Criteria 3 Supports populations of plants capacity; d) broad environmental tolerance; e) and / or animal species effective competition with local species for important for maintaining the habitat and growth requirements. However, it biological diversity of a is also recognized that species native to a particular biogeographic region particular area, under the influence of natural Criteria 4 Supports plant and / or animal events or abrupt changes in ecosystems, can species at a critical stage in also become invasive. their life cycle, or provides refuge during adverse Invasion by floral as well as faunal species is conditions observed in most of the wetlands. It is Criteria 5 Regularly supports 20,000 or therefore important to record the species that more waterbirds are invasive in the system, their physical Criteria 6 Regularly supports 1 % of the extent (for plant species in particular) and individuals in a population of growth strategy. one species or subspecies of waterbird 3.2.5 Ecosystem Services Criteria 7 Supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish Ecosystem services are the benefits people subspecies, species or families, derive from the ecosystems. These are life-history stages, species classified broadly into: interactions and / or populations that are
Provisioning : The products obtained from representative of wetland wetlands which include food, fiber, benefits and / or values and firewood, genetic resources, biochemicals, thereby contributes to global natural medicines, pharmaceuticals, biological diversity ornamental resources and freshwater. Criteria 8 Important source of food for
Regulating : Benefits obtained from fishes, spawning ground, regulation of wetland processes, including nursery and/ or migratory path air quality maintenance, climate on which fish stocks, either regulation, water regulation, erosion within the wetland or control, water purification and waste elsewhere depend treatment, regulation of human diseases, Criteria 9 Regularly supports 1% of the biological control, pollination and storm individuals in a population of protection.

one species or subspecies of
Cultural : These are non-material benefits wetland- dependent non-avian people obtain from ecosystems through 16 animal species spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation, Page

aesthetic experiences, including cultural important consequences for the wetland diversity, spiritual and religious values, system and dependent communities. knowledge systems, educational values, inspiration, social relations, senses of With ecological character being the focus of place, cultural heritage values, and management, the concept of “wetlands as ecotourism. settings” is useful to help characterize wetland
Supporting: Includes services necessary –livelihoods interactions. Derived mainly from for production of all other ecosystem usage in the health sector, the concept places services along with soil formation, nutrient ecological character as an outcome of wetland cycling and primary production. – livelihood interactions. It recognizes a differential capacity for socioeconomic While describing ecosystem services, the intermediation in wetland ecological character following aspects need special consideration: and human well-being interlinkages. The consequence of any change for wetland
Extent to which the service is being ecological character becomes the central point provided (for example, level of fish catch) of interest, rather than setting a geographical
Beneficiaries of service provision ( for boundary within which the livelihood systems example, fishers ) are investigated.
Conditions and processes required to maintain the service ( for example, fish Assessment of wetland livelihood linkages can migration, prevention of unsustainable be approached in the following steps: harvest)
Institutions regulating ecosystem service
Developing livelihood profile : Based on provision ( for example, customary laws sustainable livelihood approaches, related to fishing) livelihood system can be conceived
Costs and benefits of service provision comprising five broad categories of
Stakeholder conflicts capitals, namely:

The information on ecosystem services, to the o Natural Capital representing natural extent possible, should be quantified (for capital stocks from which resource example, flood regulation capacity assessed flows and services useful for using inflow and outflow hydropgraphs, or livelihoods is derived water quality change using measurements at o Human Capital represents the skills, inflow and outflow locations). knowledge, ability to labour and good health that together enable people to 3.2.6 Socioeconomics and livelihoods pursue different livelihood strategies and achieve livelihood objectives This section of the wetland description o Social Capital comprises social focuses on wetland – livelihood linkages. The resources upon which people draw in analysis intends to assess the degree to which pursuit of livelihood objectives the wetland condition and trends are o Physical Capital comprises basic influenced by livelihood choices made by the infrastructure and producer goods user communities. needed to support livelihoods o Financial Capital comprising financial Analysis of livelihoods in the context of resources that people use to achieve wetland management presents conceptual livelihood objectives challenges, as unlike features as catchments and hydrological regimes, spatial boundaries
Assessing wetland- livelihoods for livelihood systems are hard to define as interactions : Mapping of the wetland linkages exist at various scales through ecosystem services against livelihood institutions as markets. Focusing only on assets provide a fuller understanding of communities directly dependant on wetlands

the contribution of wetlands in the is not sufficient as historical analysis indicates particular system. While ecosystem that changes in livelihood systems external to

services of wetlands can be considered to 17 these communities (for example, increasing form a part of natural capital, through export attractiveness of shrimp farming) have Page

transforming structures and processes, o economic facilities enabling people ecosystem services can contribute to all to convert ecosystem services for forms of capitals (Box 4). production / exchange o social opportunities as arrangements
Vulnerability contexts: The capitals are societies make for education, health linked to an external environment domain, and other related sectors in order to which consists of direct and indirect allow them to live better lives and be drivers of change. Operating at multiple productive members of society, scales, and across stakeholders, the specific reference being made to indirect drivers may include demographic, gender equality economic, socio-political, science and o transparency guarantees, referring to technology, and cultural and religious; openness and trust wherein the direct drivers include changes o protective security creating safety in local land use and cover, species nets against adverse events that make introduction or removal, technology individuals helpless, and adaptation and use, external inputs, o ecological security, referring to harvest and resource consumption, minimum levels of ecosystem services climate change, and other natural, required to sustain livelihoods . physical, and biological drivers.
Livelihood outcomes: The livelihood
Livelihood strategies : The capability of strategies finally lead to a livelihood the communities to employ livelihood outcome, or changes in well-being status. capitals, and wetland ecosystem services A strategy can therefore be leading to a embedded within the capital set, define change in poverty status depending on livelihood strategies. Livelihood analysis the changes induced in the five broad starts from the premise that access to elements of human well-being i.e the services and benefits, and therefore well- necessary material for good life, health, being outcomes, is likely to be distributed good social relations, security and in an unequal way along socio-economic freedoms and choice. The sustainability of lines. Management interventions for the wetlands–livelihoods interlinkages wetlands must also seek to address these could be assessed for a livelihood system inequities. The capability to access in terms of achieving at least three pre- livelihood capitals are influenced by conditions: institutional arrangements, formal and o informal. Inequality in access to resources, Internal sustainability, wherein it has often attributed to scarcity, and the ability to cope and recover from opportunities of value addition create stresses and shocks and maintain or incentives for powerful groups to gain enhance its capabilities and assets privileged access by influencing political, both now and in future; o economic and social institutions that Social sustainability , wherein it govern their access, management and use. enhances or does not diminish the The ability to create, revise and / or livelihood of others; and o modify institutions is linked to the Ecological sustainability, wherein it degrees of freedoms to the community. does not deplete or disrupt ecosystem The broad six categories of freedoms services to the prejudice of include: livelihoods and well-being of others, now or in future. Inherent in this o participative freedom which allows definition is livelihood systems people to be involved in an active enabling maintenance or manner without intimidation or fear in enhancement of wetland ecological deciding issues related to their well character. being

18 Page

Box 4: Linking wetland ecosystem services to livelihood assets

Livelihood assets Natural : Land, Soil, Physical : Basic Human : Skills, Social : Informal Financial : Water, Fisheries etc infrastructure knowledge, networks, Savings, credit, and producer’s health and formalized incomes, trade and goods ability to work groups remittances membership, relationships Provisioning Food and Water Wetlands and Community Products for Security (subsistence) Human institutions trading : Food for Drinking water for Health : based on water Humans; food for human and livestock; Medical ( eg. water user livestock; Water, water for agriculture; products associations) reed fiber and peat; Food for humans and and wetlands ( Medicinal plants livestock e.g. mangrove Regulating Water purification; flood Wetlands as Biological associations) to Insurance values control; flood storage; Water control agent manage their of wetlands soil; sediment and Infrastructure for pest use and Coastal shoreline nutrient retention; Flood control; diseases allocation protection; carbon coastal shoreline flood storage; storage stabilization; storm coastal shoreline protection; carbon stabilization; storage; climate storm protection buffering Cultural Recreational hunting Wetlands and Recreational Revenue and fishing; Cultural Human Health hunting and generation Ecosystem Services of Wetlands of Wetlands Services Ecosystem heritage; Contemporary Water sports; fishing; Cultural opportunities cultural significance; Nature study heritage; Other recreation spiritual and religious pursuits; Contemporary and tourism values; Water sports; Educational cultural Nature study pursuits; values; significance; Educational values; Aesthetic and spiritual and Aesthetic and sense of sense of place religious values place values; values; knowledge systems; knowledge Other recreation and systems tourism Supporting Primary production; Support all ecosystem services and livelihood capitals Nutrient cycling

Data for livelihood analysis can be either Points to remember for wetland description collected through baseline surveys at household level or specifically designed  Use multiple information sources. For participatory appraisals. several features it is difficult to avail data from systematic monitoring or research. 3.2.7 Institutional regimes Getting insights from stakeholder consultations provides useful information Institutions play an important role in on the conditions and trends of features, influencing human behaviour towards provided carefully interpreted and wetlands by defining and delimiting the adequately triangulated. These should be resource use patterns and thereby defining recorded and made part of description. incentive structures for the related stakeholders. A description of institutional  Pay special attention to the feature(s) regimes should focus on: which support site designation, for example as a Wetland of International
Formal and informal institutions related to Importance under Ramsar Convention. wetlands
Roles and responsibilities, with focus on  Include a bibliography containing conflicting interests references used for collating
Governance mechanisms information. All forms of publications,
Gaps in institutional arrangements whether published or unpublished should 19 be cited. Page

 Present the information in language that narrow set, maintaining which can ensure that can be commonly understood by the wetland continues to deliver the range of stakeholders. Avoid using too much ecosystem services and support biodiversity. technical language and jargon of interest only to scientific and technical community. 3.3.1 Status and trends in ecological character  Identify uncertainties and gaps in data. The first step in wetland evaluation process This will help design a robust monitoring involves assessing the status and trends in and research plan to support wetland ecological character (Table 5). The information management. To the extent possible, for each of the wetland component, processes review the methodology and source of and services is analysed to assess their data before using it for making condition and trends. This step gives the first conclusions on site features. understanding of the overall condition of the wetland system.  Prevent information overload. To the extent possible, focus on the relevance of An assessment of trend in particular wetland information in the context of describing feature may require knowledge on the the condition and trend of wetland feature thresholds (for example, salinity levels linked and its governing factors. with freshwater, brackish or marine conditions). To the extent possible, historical 3.3 Wetland evaluation information on the ecological character elements must be summarized and analysed Wetland evaluation is intended to provide a for discerning the trends. However, care must means of confirming important site features be taken to evaluate the information source, and identify the focus of management. It data generation methodology and associated assists in setting priorities to wetland features uncertainties. described in the previous step by identifying a

Table 5: Ecological Character Description Ecological character features Descriptors Ecosystem The living (biotic) • Geomorphic setting (landscape, catchment, river basin, Components and non-living coastal zone) (abiotic) • Climate (precipitation , wind, temperature, evaporation, constituents of humidity) wetland ecosystem • Physical setting (area, boundaries, topography, shape, bathymetry, habitat type and connectivity) • Water regime (inflow, outflow, balance, surface – groundwater interactions, inundation regime, tidal regime, quality) • Wetland Soil (texture, chemical and biological properties) • Biota (Plant and animal communities) Ecosystem Processes that • Physical processes (water stratification, mixing, Processes occur between sedimentation, erosion) organisms and • Energy – nutrient dynamics (primary production, within and nutrient cycling, carbon cycling, decomposition, between oxidation – reduction) populations and • Processes that maintain animal and plant population communities, (recruitment, migration) including • Species interaction (Competition, predation, interactions with succession, herbivory)

non-living environment, that

result in existing 20 ecosystem state Page

and bring about changes in ecosystems over time. Ecosystem Benefits obtained • Provisioning (fisheries, use of aquatic vegetation for Services by humans from economic propose, water transport, biochemical ecosystems products ) • Regulating (maintenance of hydrological regimes) • Cultural (recreation and tourism, spiritual , scientific and educational value)

3.3.2 Identification of priority features be used to justify action for restoration The ecological character description process considering the possibility of restoration yields a range of information on wetland of a feature. Severally degraded features features, not all of which have the same have a varying degree of restoration priority for management. The next step potential, and in most cases, only a few or therefore is to evaluate the features to come limited features can be restored through up with a priority list. appropriate management.  Criticality in sustaining ecosystem The process for identification of priority services and biodiversity : Maintenance of features involves filtering the data using state of certain features (for example prioritization criterions. Some of the hydrological connectivity) is crucial for recommended criterions include: ecosystem services provision and biodiversity. Such features need to be  Adherence to regulatory regimes / policy prioritized for management planning. commitments: Certain features need to  Socioeconomic importance : Certain be made the focus of management as per features as levels of harvest of fish, or requirement of the existing legal and availability of water have distinct policy frameworks. For example, for sites socioeconomic importance for livelihoods notified under Wetland (Conservation and or even in the cultural contexts. It is Management) Rules, 2010, changes in important that such features are identified hydrological regimes are not permitted. and made the focus of management. For designated Ramsar sites, changes in boundaries are not permitted. These  Given the criticality of criterions in automatically set the boundary conditions identification and prioritization of for certain features. features, it is important that these are  Naturalness: In general, the more natural a robust and derived through a consultative feature is, the greater its value of process. ecological character. However, determining naturalness often requires 3.3.3 Threats to ecological character availability of historical data on the site. It Following prioritization of features, the next is also recognized that often highly stage involves undertaking a threats analysis modified habitats can sustain high to assess the risks of adverse changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services. ecological character, as well as the root causes  Rarity: Presence of rare /endangered of ecological character change. This step species and habitats is known to enhance ensures that management planning is not ecological character value and thereby focused on symptoms, but uses a diagnostic management attention. approach to identify the real direct and  Biological Diversity: Maintenance of indirect drivers of wetland degradation. biological diversity is one of the important objectives of conservation planning. Sites Identification of threats can be done using a with high biological diversity tend to have DPSIR (Driver – Pressure- State-Impact- high ecological character value. Response) analysis, or a problem tree analysis  Potential for improvement and /or determining cause effect relationship. 21 restoration: This evaluation criterion can Page

3.4 Setting management objectives 3.4.1 Defining management planning framework The evaluation process leads to an assessment A management framework aims at describing of existing condition of the wetland system, the overall management goal, and broad key features that need to be maintained, and components of actions that are required to the threats that need to be managed to address the need for maintaining the achieve its conservation and wise use. The important wetland features in a desired state. next step in the management planning process It provides a structure for developing is to define a response strategy outlining a management objectives for each of the management framework and specific features of interest. It is a means to check management objectives that need to be met in whether sufficient number of objectives have order to maintain the site in a desired been identified to be able to address the full condition. This involves: range of divers and pressures related to the wetlands.
Defining a management planning framework outlining the management Generically, the management goal statement goal and management components reflects the vision of wise use for the site,
Outlining management objectives achieving which ensures that the range of under each management component services and the biodiversity are maintained. It
Developing performance indicators is useful to structure the components along and a monitoring system for four broad areas: a) ecological restoration; b) management objectives sustainable livelihoods; c) institutional development; and, d) communication, education, participation and awareness (CEPA).

Box 5: Management framework for Lake Chilika, OrissaOrissa

The management planning framework for Lake Chilika envisages ecosystem conservation and sustainable resource development and livelihood improvement supported by institutional development; communication, education and public awareness; and institutional development as the key management components. The ecosystem conservation is proposed to address catchment conservation; water management and biodiversity conservation as its sub-components. Ecotourism development, sustainable fisheries development and micro-enterprise development / improvement

of quality of life are subcomponents for sustainable resource development and livelihood improvement. 22 Page

The ecological restoration component of the a) Attributed to Spread of invasive plan is aimed at conserving the conditions of wetland use species, discharge of the wetland and its associated basin. The pattern pollutants objectives herein relate to managing the Traditions associated catchments, restoring hydrological regimes with resource and habitat conditions for wetland dependent harvest ( rules for biodiversity. The component on sustainable management of livelihoods is focused on managing the ways fisheries), community use the resources and providing stakeholder conflicts incentives for the local communities to b) Attributed to Degradation of participate in wetland management. A changes in catchment, separate work component on institutional landscape fragmentation of arrangements is to bring focus on the ways within with hydrological regimes and means by which various agencies related wetland is to management of different wetland features located will collaborate and coordinate to manage the Institutional factors Limitations of wetland. For several sites, the component existing legal focuses on creating and setting operational arrangement to procedures for a wetland management address authority. Finally, the CEPA component unsustainable assists in developing a work programme on harvest of resources communication of wetlands and enhancing participation of stakeholders. Setting of management objectives can often 3.4.2 Defining management objectives be assisted by identifying operational limits. Operational limits define a range of values for Management objectives state the condition each factor which can be considered that needs to be achieved within the priority acceptable and tolerable. An upper limit can features as a contribution to the overall be set for undesirable factors, whereas a lower management goal for the site. limit for positive factors. For example, dissolved oxygen levels below 5 parts per The management objectives are defined based million are unsuitable for fisheries. This on the knowledge of the factors that govern information can be used to set the lower limits the feature of interest. These could be broadly for this water quality feature. The spread of classified into being natural or human-induced invasive species can be threat, and therefore and operating within and/or outside the needs to be managed based on an upper limit. wetland. A knowledge of these factors helps understand which of these can actually be Box 6: Setting management objectives for managed and thereby are worth allocating management of phumdi in Loktak Lake resources for. Changes in features attributed to natural factors in most of the circumstances In Loktak Lake, Manipur, the management plan need to be accepted and factored in the targets to maintain phumdi ( a mix of over 6o management plan as a part of overall system species of plants and sediments in various behaviour. stages of decomposition, spread of which is considered harmful especially in the central Factor types Examples part of the lake) only in the northern and Natural factors With the wetland southern region, thereby specifying an upper system: Natural limit. In Southern Sector of the lake, wherein a succession in globally endangered deer species, Ruvercus vegetation eldii inhabits the phumdi , the extent is used External to wetland: to set the lower bound of habitat condition.

changes in climate, Management planning therefore recognizes sea- level rise the positive as well as negative role of phumdi

Human induced in ecosystem management. 23 factors Page

Things to keep in mind while defining nutrient levels ) objectives Enhanced Monitoring connectivity flows, surface  Measurable – the objectives must be water measurable so as to enable reporting on exchange progress towards meeting them (for Socioecono Decreased use Socioeconomi example, reducing silt load from the lake mics of harmful c surveys basin by xx %) fishing practices Reduced Socioeconomi  Achievable – the objectives must be dependence on c surveys achievable atleast in the medium or long wetlands term. An objective that cannot be achieved can lead to an overall loss of sense of direction and misallocation of When the full range of performance indicators resources (for example, completely for all the management objectives have been preventing nutrient enrichment in a identified, it is useful to combine them into a wetland located in an intensive monitoring plan to enable systematic capture agricultural landscape is an unachievable of the monitoring outcomes and use in objective, a much better proposition informing the planning process. The would be to reduce the current rate by hierarchical framework for wetland inventory, xx%). assessment and monitoring systems provides useful way for spatially organizing the plan  Indicative of purpose and not the process (Fig. 4). – the objectives should not be prescriptive stating the way the objective should be achieved. It should ideally reflect the purpose of management. (for example – afforestation in xxx ha is not an objective but a way to reduce siltation. Focusing just on afforestation then limits use of other options for reducing siltation in the wetland). The processes are generally used to define the action plan for the management objective.

3.4.3 Setting performance indicators and monitoring plan The process of setting performance indicators is about creating mechanisms for assessing efficiency of the plan and to provide inputs to a review and adaptation. The performance indicators provide evidences on the condition of one or a set of features. Some examples are provided below: Fig. 4: A hierarchical system of Wetland Feature Performance Means of Inventory Assessment and Monitoring Indicator measurement (Source: Ramsar Resolution 1X. 1 Annex E) Catchments Reduction in silt Monitoring load pilot Linked with the action plan, the performance watersheds indicators may also be set at various results Hydrologic Improvement in Water quality level. For example, in a wetland catchment al regimes water quality ( monitoring conservation programme, the various results reduction in could be: coliforms , 24 reduction in Page

Outcome: Reduction in silt load Output: Increase in vegetative cover Activity: Afforestation

A results based logical framework for Loktak Lake is given at Annex 1 for illustration. CriteCriterionsrions for identifying performance indicators

Is relevant to site condition
Is quantifiable and measurable
Provides information on condition of certain wetland feature
Is economic to measure

25 Page

3.5 Defining action plan

The final stage of the management planning
Who is responsible for the activity ? methodology is defining the action plan, or
What priority is to be given for the projects that address the identified activity ? management objectives. The projects need to
What budget is required ? be defined very clearly to ensure good implementation. The following issues need to A generic listing of activities for management be considered while drafting the action plan: of wetlands is presented in table below. After the action plan has been defined, it is useful
What is the activity ? to develop a Gantt Chart for the entire plan,
When is to be carried out ? highlighting key milestones and reporting
Where is the activity to be stages. implemented ?

Generic listing of activities for management of wetlands

Management Activities Key considerations Plan component

Boundary Boundary mapping and Site boundaries should be established with reference delineation and delineation of hydrological and ecological conditions as demarcation inundation regimes, soil conditions and vegetation types. Landscape connectivity should also be taken into account when aquatic ecosystems exist in patches. All activities should be completed within first year.

Removal of encroachments Boundaries should be notified and wherever possible, protected through regulatory regimes. All activities should be completed within first year.

Shoreline management Mostly required for lakes in urban and peri -urban setting. For stabilizing bunds of lakes, naturalization of slopes using vegetative measures should be preferred. Development of promenade for urban lakes can be included based on evaluation of natural drainage and shoreline ecosystem niches.

Catchment Afforestation and aided Catchment conservation plans sh ould be developed conservation regeneration at watershed scales and based on Joint Forest Management approaches.

Only native species should be used for forestry operations.

Pilot watershed should be periodically monitored to assess changes in soil moisture regimes.

Livelihood interventions for catchment communities aimed at reducing dependence on wood as energy source should be included as appropriate.

26 Small scale engineering Community participation in design, implem entation Page

Management Activities Key considerations Plan component

measures (gully plugging, check and post project maintenance of structures should be dams, gabion structures etc.) ensured.

Water Selective dredging and desilting Dredging to be used only selectively, and be based management to improve hydrological on assessments of bathymetric profile and species connectivity interactions. For inflowing channels, dredging can be used to improve water inflow.

Interception, diversion and Mostly recommended for lakes in urban and peri - treatment of point sources of urban setting. pollution Provision of comprehensive sanitation and safe drinking water coverage to communities living around the aquatic ecosystem should be ensured.

Engineering (STPs) as well biological options (constructed wetlands) should be evaluated for application.

Planning for Operation and Maintenance expenses should be included for all engineering structures.

Construction and operation of For each major structure, detailed environmental hydraulic structures for impact assessments should be carried out prior to maintenance of water regimes construction. and flood control

Balancing water allocation for Environmental flows for aquatic ecosystems, human and ecological purposes hydrological regimes of which are affected by hydraulic structures, should be assessed and implemented in consultation in water managers

Biodiversity Habitat evaluation and Until specifically desired, plantation of terrestrial conservation improvement plant species in aquatic environment should be avoided.

Improvement and maintenance Community groups should be involved in habitat of migratory routes monitoring and maintenance of migratory routes

Maintenance of breeding and Community groups should be involved in spawning grounds for key maintenance of breeding and spawning grounds species

Management of invasive species Mix of mechanical and biological methods for controlling species invasion should be used.

For plant invasives, economic utilization alongwith physical removal should be included.

Sustainable Microente rprise development Identification of micro -enterprise development resource for reducing dependence on options should be based on assessment of development aquatic ecosystem resources for community livelihoods, capacities, resources and and livelihood livelihoods market linkages. improvement

Sustainab le fisheries Capture based fisheries techniques should be 27 Page

Management Activities Key considerations Plan component

development promoted in natural wetlands

Options for improving culture fisheries in areas around wetlands should be included to reduce dependence on capture fisheries

Sustainable agriculture Organic farming practices in immediate catchments development and lake basins should be included to minimize nutrient enrichment in water body

Institutional Setting regulatory regimes Site regulation should be harmonized with national development and state level regulations.

Local customary self-regulation which support maintenance of conservation values should be promoted

Development of monitoring and Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation evaluation system mechanism for hydrological, ecological, socio- economic and institutional features should be made a part of management system

Involvement of stakeholders in monitoring should be encouraged.

Communication and Outreach Increasing awareness on values and functions of aquatic ecosystem should be made an integral part of the management plan

Research For each site, key research areas to support management needs should be identified and included in management plan

28 Page

3.6 Budgeting and financing

A complete costing of the management plan should be done for the entire tenure of implementation, based on existing norms of the state and central government, as may be the case. For each of the activity, an analysis of complementarity with ongoing development or conservation sector schemes should be done to assess the extent of funding that can be generated through convergence with these schemes. Opportunities for private sector participation should also be identified.

29 Page

4. Format for Compiling Management Plan

Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Policy context of wetland management in the state / UT 1.2 Rationale for management planning for the site 1.3 Management planning terms of reference 1.4 Management planning approach 1.5 Management planning methodology

Chapter 2: Description and 2.12.12.1 Description of site features evaluation of site features 2.1.1 Wetland extent 2.1.2 Geology and geomorphology 2.1.3 Catchment characteristics 2.1.4 Hydrological regimes 2.1.5 Biodiversity 2.1.6 Socioeconomics and livelihoods 2.22.22.2 Evaluation of site features 2.2.1 Status and trends in key site features 2.2.2 Risk of adverse changes in key site features 2.2.3 Analysis of drivers and pressures on site features 2.2.4 Identification of management needs

Chapter 3: Institutional 3.13.13.1 Review of existing institutional arrangements for site management arrangements 3.1.1 Formal institutional arrangements 3.1.2 Informal institutional arrangements 3.23.23.2 Gaps in existing institutional arrangements 3.33.33.3 Proposed institutional arrangements for site management Chapter 4: Management 4.1 Management planning goal and purpose Planning Framework 4.2 Management objectives 4.3 Management strategies 4.4 Management Components 4.5 Sustainability of site management

Chapter 5: Monitoring and 5.1 Monitoring and evaluation objectives Evaluation Arrangements 5.2 Monitoring and evaluation strategy 5.3 Monitoring and evaluation institutional design 5.4 Infrastructure and human resource requirements 5.5 Reporting and quality control 5.6 Review and adaptation

Chapter 6: Action Plan 6.1 Component wise activities linked with management objectives

Chapter 7: Budget and Activity 7.1 Time planning for implementation of activities Phasing 7.2 Activity linked budgeting

7.3 Sources of financing (including analysis of sources of co-funding)

30 Page

Annex 1 Results based Logical Framework for Loktak Management Plan

Narrative Summary Performance Indicators Means of Ve rification Risks / Assumptions Goal Conservation and sustainable utilization of Loktak and associated wetlands for ecological security and livelihood improvement of communities Objectives 1.1 Management of phumdi Maintenance of open water surface Temporal RS and GIS Inter proliferation in Loktak Lake in central sector of Loktak Lake assessments departmental 2.1 Enhanced water regimes of In crease in thickness of phumdis in Ecological assessments coordination wetland national park Hydropower production Sustainable generation of records Timely release hydropower of funds

3.1 Control of soil erosion from Reduction in soil erosion from Soil erosion and Maintenance of direct catchments direct catchments sedimentation conducive law assessments and order 4.1 Enhanced effectiveness of park Enhanced ecological status of KLNP Ecological assessments situation management 5.1 Reduced livelihood dependence Reduction in capture fisher Socioeconomic on Loktak Lake population assessments Complete abolition of athaphum fishing 6.1 Enhanced institutional effectiveness for lake management Outputs 1.1 Removal of phumdis from Extent of phumdis in central sector Remote sensing Inter central sector and utilization for Number of farmers utilizing phumdi imagery departmental composting compost Socioeconomic coordination assessments 2.1 Barrage operations harmonizing Number of times barrage operated Barrage operation Timely release ecological and human demands as per new schedule records of funds of water 2.2 Increased flushing Extent of waterlogging Physical surveys Maintenance of 2.3 Comprehensive coverage of Extent of nutrient loading Water quality conducive law sanitation assessments and order 3.1 Enha ncement in dense forest Dense cover area in direct Remote sensing and situation cover in Loktak, Thoubal and catchments GIS analysis Heirok watersheds 3.2 Reduction in area under shifting Permanent vegetative cover in jhum Remote sensing and cultivation areas GIS analysis Diversification in occupational Socioeconomic surveys structure of jhumias 4.1 Improved knowledgebase on Datasets on various aspects of Technical reports waterbirds waterbirds of Loktak lake 4.2 Enhanced technical and infrastructural capacity for park management 5.1 Enhanced availability of fish Increase in fish fingerlings Records of HMCs

fingerlings production Physical verification 5.2 Diversification of income Reduction in contribution of lake Socioeconomic surveys

sources for Loktak fishers resources to household incomes 31 6.1 Independent monitoring and Monitoring and evaluation reports Reports Page

evaluation system in place used for management planning purposes 6.2 MSF established for conflict Number of co nflicts resolved by Reports, Personal resolution MSF interviews 6.3 CEPA activities for enhanced Number of community actions for Press, media sources awareness on values and functions lake conservation and management of Lake ecosystem 6.4 Enhanced capacity of LDA and concerned state government agencies for integrated wetland management Activities Component 1. Phumdi Management 1.1 Volume of phumdis removed Physical ver ification Inter 1.1 Phumdi removal 1.21.21.2 Volume of phumdi based departmental 1.2 Economic utilization organic manure produced coordination Component 2. Water Management 2.1 Length of drains desilted Physical verification 2.1 Improvement of drainage 2.2 Lake area dredged Water management Timely release system 2.3 Formulation of barrage report of funds 2.2 Desiltation at critical locations operational rules Barrage operation 2.3 Implementation of water 2.4 Number of toilets constructed schedule Maintenance of allocation plan conducive law 2.4 Total sanitation and order CCComponent 3. Catchment 3.1 Area of microwatersheds Physical verification situation Conservation treated Remote sensing 3.1 Treatment of degraded 3.2 Area under jhums treated imagery analysis microwatersheds 3.3 Number of beneficiaries 3.2 Management of shifting supported with alternate cultivation livelihoods 3.4 Livelihood improvement of hill communities Component 4. Biodiversity 4.1 Database of waterbirds species Technical Reports Conservation composition, population; Databases 4.1 Waterbirds conservation distribution and relationship Procurement records 4.2 Capacity building for park with lake environment; feeding management and foraging behaviour; migration patterns 4.2 Number of trainings for park managers 4.3 Additional infrastructure procured and being utilized Component 5. Sustainable Resource 5.1 Numbe r of hatcheries Physicial verification Development and Livelihood operationalized through HMCs Fingerlings production Improvement 5.2 Number of athaphum owners and income generation 5.1 Operationalization of existing and capture fishers benefitted records of HMC hatcheries under alternate livelihood Socioeconomic surveys 5.2 Pen culture for athaphum prgrammes fishers 5.3 Microenterprise development for lakeshore communities Com ponent 6. Institutional 6.1 Monitoring framework Monitoring ToR Development developed Monitoring Reports 6.1 Monitoring and evaluation 6.2 MSF established and functional Progress Reports 6.2 Establishment of Multi 6.3 Number of public awareness Stakeholder Forum events organized 6.3 Communication, education and 6.4 Number of trainings conducted public awareness

6.4 Capacity building 32 Page

5. Glossary

Adaptation community, society, or organization, which can be used to achieve established goals. A change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment Carrying capacity

Adaptive capacity Maximum population of a given species that an area can support without reducing its The combination of the strengths, attributes, ability to support the same species in the and resources available to an individual, future. community, society, or organization that can be used to prepare for and undertake actions Catchment area to reduce adverse impacts, moderate harm, or exploit beneficial opportunities. Area that collects and drains precipitation into an aquifer. Anthropogenic Climate change Refers to something originating from humans and the impact of human activities on nature. A shift in global weather patterns resulting in an increase in the variability of temperature, Aquaculture precipitation, and wind in a region over a period of time. Farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic Conductivity plants Measurement of ability of a medium to Bathymetry conduct electric current. It depends upon the number of ions or charged particles in the The study of water depth of lake floors water.

Biodiversity Conservation

The degree of variation of life forms within a Preservation, protection, or restoration of the given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife Biogeochemical Process Convention on Wetland Process by which chemical elements and simple substances are transferred between The Convention on Wetlands, signed in living systems and the environment Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for Bio-manipulation national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands Deliberate alteration of an ecosystem by and their resources. adding or removing species, especially predators Coping capacity

Bio-physical The ability of people, organizations, and systems, using available skills, resources, and Part of environment encompassing living opportunities, to address, manage, and species and their physical surroundings overcome adverse conditions. Capacity

Coping Combination of strengths, attributes and

The use of available skills, resources, and 33 resources available to an individual, opportunities to address, manage, and Page

overcome adverse conditions, with the aim of Ecological Character achieving basic functioning in the short to medium term. Description of components, processes and ecosystem services at a given time. Cultural services Economic valuation Non material benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, Assigning quantitative values to the goods and cognitive development, reflection, recreation services provided by environmental resources and aesthetic experiences, including cultural which are generally measured in terms of what diversity, spiritual and religious values, we are willing to pay for the commodity, less knowledge systems, education values, what it costs to supply it. inspiration, aesthetic values, social relations, sense of place, cultural heritage values, Ecosystem components recreation and eco-tourism Two main components exist in an ecosystem: Destructive fishing practices abiotic and biotic. The abiotic components of an ecosystem include various physical and Methods that are environmentally destructive chemical factors which represent geography, or harmful to the habitat and non-target geomorphology, hydrology and climate. Biotic species such as the use of poisons / toxins, component of an ecosystem include other deleterious materials, unregulated size autotrophs (primary producers) and in gears and nets and explosives. heterotrophs (consumers).

Disaster Ecosystem management

A sudden event, such as an accident or a A process that aims to conserve major natural catastrophe, that causes great damage ecological services and restore natural or loss of life resources while meeting the socioeconomic, political and cultural needs of current and Disaster risk future generations

The magnitude of potential disaster losses (in Ecosystem processes lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services) in a particular community or group The biogeochemical processes that transfer over some time period arising from its energy and matter within and between exposure to possible hazard events and its ecosystems. vulnerabilities to these hazards. Ecosystem restoration Disaster Risk Reduction The renewal of a degraded, damaged, or The conceptual framework of elements destroyed ecosystem through active human considered with the possibilities to minimize intervention. vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid or to limit the adverse Ecosystem services impacts of hazards, within the broad context The direct and indirect benefits that humans of sustainable development. derive from ecosystem processes such as Early warning system pollination, biodiversity and nutrient cycling that are not captured in traditional economic The set of capacities needed to generate and accounting, but that are vital to social, disseminate timely and meaningful warning economic and spiritual well-being. information to enable individuals, communities, and organizations threatened by Ecosystem a hazard to prepare and to act appropriately Community of organisms interacting with each and in sufficient time to reduce the possibility 34 other and with their environment such that of harm or loss. energy is exchanged and system-level Page

processes, such as the cycling of elements, Hydrobiology emerge. The study of life and life processes in water Ecotourism Hydrological regimes Tourism directed toward exotic, often threatened, natural environments with special Long-term spatial variation in the water depths efforts support conservation and observes and period of inundation within a wetland wildlife system.

Endemism Inundation regime

Species confined to a specific region or site. The inundation of land that is normally dry through the overflowing of a body of water Environmental flows Lake Basin TTTheT quantity, timing, and quality of water flows required to sustain freshwater and Depressed basin shaped areas in the estuarine ecosystems and the human landscape with no external drainage. They may livelihoods and well being that depend on be shallow or deep and may have flat or these ecosystems concave bottoms. They usually have clearly defined margins. Exposure Landscape The presence of people; livelihoods; environmental services and resources; The visible features of an area of land, infrastructure; or economic, social, or cultural including the physical elements assets in places that could be adversely of landforms such as (ice-capped) mountains, affected. hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea.... Fish culture Maximum Sustainable Yield Raising of fish in natural bodies of water and in artificial ponds. Maximum biomass extraction a renewable resource can sustain without impairing its Geomorphology renewability through natural growth or replenishment. The study of the physical features of the surface of the earth and their relation to its Micro-enterprise geological structures A small business that employs a small number Human capital of employees

The skills, knowledge, and experience Mitigation possessed by an individual or population, viewed in terms of their value or cost to an The measures to reduce the anticipated organization or country adverse impacts of hazard.

Hydraulic structure Montreux Record

A structure submerged or partially submerged A register of wetland sites on the List of in any body of water, which disrupts the Wetlands of International Importance where natural flow of water. They can be used to changes in ecological character have occurred, divert, disrupt or completely stop the flow. An are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result example of a hydraulic structure would be of technological developments, pollution or a dam, which slows the normal flow rate of other human interference. river in order to power turbines. 35

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Natural Capital Regulating services

The natural environment and its living Biogeochemical processes which benefit the systems, defined in terms of a stock of society directly like nutrient cycling, climate environmentally provided assets (soil, regulation, water regulation, erosion control, atmosphere, forests, minerals, water, fauna, water purification and waste treatment, wetlands), that provide the useful materials regulation of human diseases, biological that represent the raw input or consumable control, pollination and storm protection products of human production. Remote sensing Natural resource Technique of acquiring information about the Resources (renewable and non-renewable) Earth's surface without being in contact with it. supplied by nature This is done by sensing and recording reflected or emitted energy and processing, Nutrient cycling analyzing, and applying that information.

Flow of elements and compounds between Resilience living organisms and their physical environment. Chemicals absorbed or ingested Ability of a biological organism to return to its by organisms are passed through the food original state following exposure to a chain and returned to the soil, air, and water biological, climatic or other stressor (example: by such mechanisms as respiration, excretion, pollution or other anthropogenic disturbance) and decomposition. Risk Poverty alleviation A probability or threat of a damage, injury, Any process which seeks to reduce the level of liability, loss, or other negative occurrence that poverty in a community, or amongst a group of is caused by external or internal people or countries vulnerabilities.

Precipitation Risk management

Rain, snow, sleet, dew, etc. formed by Identification, assessment, and prioritization condensation of water vapour in the of risks followed by coordinated and atmosphere economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability Primary production and/or impact of unfortunate events

Production of organic compounds from Risk transfer atmospheric or aquatic carbon dioxide, principally through the process of The process of formally or informally shifting photosynthesis the financial consequences of particular risks from one party to another whereby a Provisioning services household, community, enterprise, or state authority will obtain resources from the other Products obtained from the ecosystems, party after a disaster occurs, in exchange for including food and fiber, fuel, genetic ongoing or compensatory social or financial resources, biochemical, natural medicines, benefits provided to that other party. pharmaceuticals, ornamental resources and freshwater River basin Management

Recreation A management tool in Integrated Water

Resources Management that generally contain Activity performed during one's leisure or free descriptions of the water resources in time. Recreational activities are often done for a drainage basin and water allocation plans 36 amusement, enjoyment or pleasure and are

considered to be 'fun' Page

Sedimentation Succession

Tendency for particles in suspension to settle The process by which a plant or animal out of the fluid in which they are entrained community successively gives way to another and come to rest against a barrier. until a stable climax is reached

Social Capital Supporting services

The networks of relationships among people Services necessary for production of all other who live and work in a particular society, ecosystem services including soil formation, enabling that society to function effectively nutrient cycling and primary production

Socio-ecological system Sustainable development

A set of critical resources (natural, Development that meets the needs of the socioeconomic, and cultural) whose flow and present without compromising the ability of use is regulated by a combination future generations to meet their own needs. of ecological and social systems and a perpetually dynamic, complex system with Tidal regime continuous adaptation Potential influence of tides on the evolution of Socio-economic a coastline

A branch of economics that focuses on the Topography relationship between social behavior and economics. Social economics examines how Study and depiction of the distribution, social norms, ethics and other social relative positions, and elevations of natural philosophies that influence consumer and manmade features of a particular behavior shape an economy, and uses history, landscape, such as mountains, rivers, valleys, politics and other social sciences to examine and human settlements, railway lines, and potential results from changes to society or roads. the economy. Vulnerability Species Interaction The propensity or predisposition to be Positive and negative associations between adversely affected. species that favour or inhibit mutual growth Wise use and evolution of populations. It may take the form of competition, predation, parasitism, Wise use of wetlands is the maintenance of commensalism or mutualism. their ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches,

within the context of sustainable development.

37 Page Wetlands Management Planning Methodology Manual for Indian Managers

January 2013, Version 1.0

Wetlands International South Asia