What will happen when there are no kidneys in our body?

It's simple to answer ,you will die !

Do you know our ecosystem also have some kidneys ?

Called "wetlands"

Before understanding the term 'wetland' , we should know the term "Ecotone". Ecotone is the transitional zone of two ecosystems or two communities where they meet, integrate and flourish.

Wetland is that Ecotone where the two ecosystems are land and water i.e., It is the transitional zone of Terrestrial(Land) Ecosystem and Aquatic(water) Ecosystem. It is neither purely terrestrial nor purely aquatic.

Significance of Wetlands

1. It play a significant role in water purification. It act as a natural filters, trapping sediments, debris and pollutants as water flows through them.

2. It reduces the risk of water pollution as microorganisms in wetland soil breakdown the excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from water.

3. Prevent Floods . It can absorb and store excess water during heavy rainfall.

4. Carbon Sequestration. It capture and store organic matter that contains carbon over time. This can help reduce the concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, a key greenhouse gas responsible for climate change

5. Vegetation in wetland trap airborne toxins and particulate matter, helps in mitigating air Pollution.

6. It act as a bio-shield. e.g. Mangrove Forrest (wetland)reduces the impact of coastal erosion and flooding , providing a protective barrier for coastal communities.

7. Source of important Medicinal Plants like Marsh Mallow, Common Reed, Water Hyacinth etc.

8. Important source of livelihood (food, fibre and quality wood)

9. Wetlands are among the most biological diverse and most productive ecosystems and the biggest provider of Ecosystem Services among various Ecosystem.

10. Also called as "Biological Supermarket" , "Kidneys of Landscape"

11. The list does not end here.

Why Alarming situation?

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA): It is the comprehensive scientific assessment of world's Ecosystems carried out by 1300 experts from 95 countries between 2001 to 2005. It was initiated by United Nations.

As per MA 2005 : Wetlands are the most threatened of the ecosystem.

Since 1700, 87% of wetlands lost.

Since 1970, 35% of Wetlands lost.

Rate of Wetlands loss is much higher than the rate at which forests are getting lost.

Reasons for depletion

1. Conversion of land for agriculture

2. Overgrazing

3. Removal of sands from bed

4. Pollution and Domestic waste

5. Aqua culture

6. Deforestation and habitat destruction

If wetlands get damaged, it will become net source of Carbon, which will contribute in Global Warming and eventually contribute in Climate Change .

International Convention

Ramsar Convention : Convention on wetlands signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar

Three Pillars:

1. Wise Use of wetlands

2. List of wetlands of International Importance

3. International Cooperation over the trans boundry wetlands

Currently 75 wetlands in India are designated as Ramsar sites

Montreux Record: Launched in 1990. It is the list of those ramsar sites that need urgent attention.

Currently, two wetlands of India are in Montreux record:

Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur)