Saving Wetlands Sky High

Nurturing the mighty Ganges River, the Indian Himalayas cradle freshwater sources for most of the Indian subcontinent. Agricultural and industrial activities in the fertile Gangetic plain thrive on Himalayan glacial and snow-fed rives alone. The Indus and Brahmaputra are also fed off the waters from these ranges. Most of these rivers have been borne out of wetlands straddled high up in the mountain ranges. Hence, any change in the dynamics of these wetlands has a direct impact on the rivers downstream.

The Indian Himalayas cover approximately 591,000 km2 or 18 percent of India's land surface and spread over the Himalayan States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and some parts of Assam and West Bengal. People living in the region are largely dependent on the wetlands for their livelihood regardless of whether they are settled or nomadic. Pasturelands fringing the wetlands are used for grazing livestock while some wetlands are regarded as sacred by the locals This adds to the cultural importance of these wetlands. 

Increasing population pressure and unregulated or uncoordinated development are putting tremendous pressure on the Himalayan wetlands. In fact, most of the wetlands in the himalayan States are threatened by developmental activities or reclamation for agriculture. At that altitude, a change in the rise of the lake levels can directly be linked to climate change, as most of them are entirely glacier-fed. Increasing water levels have resulted in the submergence of crucial breeding grounds of rare and endangered migratory bird species. Depleting glacier-cover in some areas have consequentially resulted in the shrinking of some of these wetlands as well.

The conservation of high altitude wetlands in India was initiated in Ladakh in 1999. Since then various achievements like the establishment of conservation trusts (comprising of conservation pioneers from the local communities), declaration of Ramsar sites, involvement of the Army in conservation work and the documentation of endangered biodiversity species (Black-necked Crane), have marked the progress of this initiative. 

Under this project WWF is striving for sustainable management of these wetlands. Addressing wetlands in all the five Himalayan states, WWF is directing its efforts towards policy-formulation for better management practices, monitoring climate impacts, reducing the impacts of tourism and other anthropogenic activities and furthering demonstrations of community-based wetland management practices. 

In India high altitude wetlands in four Himalayan states have been selected for conservation action.
 
Starting with the Eastern Himalayas, in India wetlands in the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have been targeted for conservation action. In Sikkim Tsomgo Lake, Gurudongmar, Tsho Lhamu and Laxmipokhari are important high altitude wetlands with focused work in Tsongmo and Gurudongmar. In Arunachal Pradesh, two important wetland complexes -Nagula Wetland Complex and Bangajang Wetland Complex will be focus areas for the programme.
 
The key high altitude wetlands in Jammu and Kashmir are Nandan Sar, Katori Sar and Samot Sar in Pir Panjal Range of Jammu, Kishan Sar, Vishan Sar and Nilnag Lake in Kashmir and Pangong Tso, Tsomoriri, Startsapuk Tso and Tsokar in Ladakh. In Himachal Pradesh Chandratal, Nako, Surajtal Tal, Brighu and Lama Dal Lake are important high altitude wetlands. 

The high altitude wetlands in Ladakh are the only breeding grounds for migratory bird species like the Black-necked Crane and Bar-headed Goose in India. Furthermore some of the wetlands directly or indirectly play a major role as sources of rivers originating from the region.

These wetlands are important not only for the survival of wildlife in the region but also for mountain communities who directly or indirectly depend on these wetlands for their livelihoods. Local communities living in the region are dependent upon wetlands for their livelihood regardless of whether they are settled or nomadic. Pasturelands near the wetlands are used for grazing livestock. In Ladakh about 90 percent of the economy of local nomadic communities, near the wetlands, depends on their livestock which graze on wetland pastures. 

Culturally the wetlands in the Indian Himalayas have adorned socio-religious values. Some wetlands like Tsomoriri (Jammu and Kashmir) and Manimaheshwar (Himachal Pradesh) are regarded as sacred and are revered by thousands of pilgrims each year. 
 
Thus far two high altitude wetlands in India have been designated as Ramsar sites. These include Tsomoriri in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and Chandratal in Himachal Pradesh.