Despite the production of more food and extraction of more water
globally, wetlands continue to decline and public health and living
standards for many do not improve. This new report focuses on the often complex inter-relationships between wetland ecosystems and human health.

Wetlands are among the most productive and economically valuable ecosystems in the world. However, because of human activities, over half of the wetland ecosystems existing in North America, Europe, Australia, and China in the early 20th century have been lost. Ecological restoration to recover critical ecosystem services has been widely attempted, but the degree of actual recovery of ecosystem functioning and structure from these efforts remains uncertain.

It is widely held that humankind's destructive tendencies when exploiting natural resources leads to irreparable harm to the environment. Yet, this thinking runs counter to evidence that many ecological systems damaged by severe natural environmental disturbances (e.g., hurricanes) can restore themselves via processes of natural recovery. The emerging field of restoration ecology is capitalizing on the natural restorative tendencies of ecological systems to build a science of repairing the harm inflicted by humans on natural environment.

The ever increasing loss of natural floodplain wetlands to hydrological and global change, land use change and natural hazards is leading to serious environmental and ecological concerns in the flood plains of Assam, where wetlands (beels) which undertakes a range of hydrological & environmental function also provide an ambient habitat to a

The Wetland ecosystem in India is spread over a wide range of varied climatic conditions, from the wetlands in
cold Jammu and Kashmir to hot and humid conditions in Peninsular India; thus there is a great diversity of these
wetlands. Many of these wetlands are unique with respect to biodiversity, scenic beauty, shelter of migratory birds,
resident avifauna, etc. Under the conservation of wetlands in India, several wetlands have been recognized that are a
part of National Parks and Sanctuaries.

Good news for lake conservationists and aficionados alike. Authorities are pulling up their sleeves for the proper conservation of lakes in Kaski district.

Ramsar East Asia Centre director Seung-oh Suh said conservation of wetlands and their resources were essential for human beings and maintaining ecosystems.

Drying up of wetland usually affects the livelihood of thousands of people adversely, said Suh while addressing a four-day

Every Indian city, worth its salt, was known by its water body. Structures -- tanks, lakes, step wells and the channels to convey rainwater –determined the city’s water manners. Today, these water bodies are a shame – encroached, full of sewage, garbage or just filled up and built over. In state after state, citizens and NGOs have filed legal cases for protection of lakes. And the courts have responded with dramatic verdicts, which provide the learnings for how these water-systems can be regenerated for the city’s future. This comprehensive database by CSE tracks the cases on important lakes of India in courts.

Wetlands and wetland-dominated ecosystems are disappearing at an unsettling rate right across the country.

This is Comprehensive Management Action Plan (CMAP) for Conservation of the Ousteri lake prepared by Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) details various conservation and management interventions to be taken up for long-term sustainability of this lake.

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