WETLAND CONSERVATION

ROUGH DRAFT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF COURSE TITLED

ENVIROMENT LAW FOR OBTAINING THE DEGREE OF B.B.A, LL.B. (HONS.)

PROJECT PROPOSED BY:

VISHWAN UPADHYAY

ROLL NO: 1864

SEMESTER: 7TH

SUBMITTED TO:

Mr. Hrishikesh Manu

Assistant Professor of Law

SEPTEMBER, 2020

CHANAKYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, MITHAPUR, PATNA-800001

INTRODUCTION:
A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally,
where oxygen-free processes prevail. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from
other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to
the unique hydric soil.

Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils, topography, climate,
hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation and other factors, including human disturbance.
Indeed, wetlands are found from the tundra to the tropics and on every continent except
Antarctica. Two general categories of wetlands are recognized: coastal or tidal wetlands and
inland or non-tidal wetlands.

India has a wealth of wetlands distributed in different geographical regions. Most of the
wetlands in India are directly or indirectly linked with major river systems such as the
Ganges, Cauvery, Krishna, Godavari and Tapti. India has totally 27, 403 wetlands, of which
23,444 are inland wetlands and 3,959 are coastal wetlands. According to the Directory of
Asian Wetlands (1989), wetlands occupy 18.4% of the country’s area (excluding rivers), of
which 70 % are under paddy cultivation. In India, out of an estimated 4.1 mha (excluding
irrigated agricultural lands, rivers and streams) of wetlands, 1.5 mha are natural, while 2.6
mha are manmade. The coastal wetlands occupy an estimated 6,750 sq km and are largely
dominated by mangrove vegetation. About 80% of the mangroves are distributed in the
Sunderbans of West Bengal and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with the rest in the
coastal states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra
and Gujarat.
Efforts to conserve wetlands began in 1987 and the main focus of government efforts was on
biological methods of conservation rather than adopting engineering options. A national
wetland-mapping project has also been initiated for an integrated approach on conservation.
In certain wetland sites it is heartening to see the Government, NGOs and local community
coming together to save our wetlands and thus realize the objectives of Ramsar Convention.

The National Committee on Wetlands, Mangroves and Coral Reefs, constituted for advising
the Government on appropriate policies and measures to be taken for conservation and
management of the wetlands, has identified 93 wetlands for conservation and management on
priority basis.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
The author in this paper will be presenting a detailed study on the topic, ‘Wetland
Conservation’.
The primary aim of the author is to analyse the situation of wetlands and the steps taken to
conserve them, and for the same, author will be sticking to the territorial limits of India for
his study.

HYPOTHESIS:
1. Existing provisions for conservation of wastelands are enough if they are
implemented properly.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The research has primarily relied on empirical data, i.e., non-doctrinal form of research for
the purpose of this paper and for, proving his hypothesis.

SOURCES OF DATA:
The researcher, due to the ongoing epidemic has primarily relied on the internet for his
research.
The researcher has also referred to books which were available to him in these tough times.

MODE OF CITATION:
The researcher will be adhering to 20th ed. of Bluebook Citation.

LIMITATIONS OF STUDY:
Limited period of time and the ongoing epidemic were the biggest limitations of study. The
researcher had a limited period of time to complete analytical analysis of the given topic.
Territorial and monetary limitations were present too.
TENTATIVE CHAPTERIZATION:
1. Introduction
a. Environment Conservation
b. Wetlands
i. Types of Wetlands
ii. Wetlands In India
2. International Conventions on Conservation of Wetlands
a. Ramsar Convention
3. Domestic laws on Wetland Conservation
4. Conclusion
5. Suggestions
6. Bibliography