Section 7
Policy Regarding The Wise Use Of Wetlands
There should be wise and sustainable use of wetlands to protect the natural heritage of ecosystems for the wellbeing of human race. The techniques of wise use of wetlands are applied in the conservation and management of the Ramsar Sites or other wetlands. The policy on the wise use of wetlands emphasizes on rational, thoughtful and judicious use of wetland resources. The policy as to the wise use of wetlands resources adopts the following aspects of wetland conservation –
7.1 Prepare a national-level inventory of wetlands
7.2 Identify the importance and benefits of wetlands by collecting basic information and statistics on management practices of wise use of wetlands. Recognize and prioritize important wetland sites on the basis of their
social, economic, religious, cultural and historical significance. Allocate funds for projects that promote wetlands conservation and the sustainable use of wetlands resources. Conserve flora and fauna without allowing misuse or overuse of
7.3 Recognize and prioritize important wetland sites on the basis of their social, economic, religious, cultural and historical significance.
7.4 Allocate funds for projects that promote wetlands conservation and the sustainable use of wetlands resources.
7.5 Conserve flora and fauna without allowing misuse or overuse of wetlands resources.
7.6 Make provisions for environmental impact assessment according to prevalent laws prior to approving development programmes and activities around wetlands.
7.7 Ensure environmental protection by regularly monitoring development programmes and activities around wetlands.
6. Classification of Wetlands and Management Policy:
Wetlands have been classified into three categories management prespectives.5 4
(a) Wetlands that lie within protected areas or buffer zones.
(b) Government or public wetlands that lie outside the protected areas.
(c) Wetlands in private land.
6.1 Conduct regular studies on the status of wetlands that lie within the protected areas or buffer zones, or the government or public wetlands that lie outside the protected areas, or the wetlands inside private lands, and find out where there is comparatively better conservation and management work.
6.2 Make arrangements to entrust the management responsibilities of wetlands that fall within national parks and wildlife reserves to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
6.3 Make arrangements to entrust the management responsibilities of wetlands that fall within the conservation area to the concerned body.
6.4 Formulate necessary legal arrangements to make the wetlands management activities effective by maintaining coordination and integrating the rights and jurisdictions of concerned bodies if the
wetlands are being managed by different bodies.
6.5 Determine appropriate models of leasehold wetlands, community wetlands, privately managed wetlands and jointly managed wetlands for the effective conservation and management of public wetlands that lie outside the protected areas, and manage them accordingly.
6.6 Enhance local people’s participation in buffer zone management by promoting the wise use of wetlands resources.
6.7 Grant recognition to private or privately owned wetlands as private wetlands and provide necessary training and technical support to enhance the technical and management capacity of the owners of such wetlands. Also, regulate and systematize the wise and sustainable use of wetlands resources along with the protection of genetic resources, conservation of animals, organisms, and birds that are dependant on wetlands.
6.8 Discourage any activities that could change the land use pattern or degrade wetlands or exert negative impact on wetlands to ensure the conservation of private wetland sites.
6.9 Make necessary arrangements for the equitable distribution of benefits arising from wetlands to local inhabitants who are dependant on wetlands.
6.10 Formulate and implement integrated action plan that encourages multidimensional model and promotes wetlands conservation.
7.1 Prepare a national-level inventory of wetlands
7.2 Identify the importance and benefits of wetlands by collecting basic information and statistics on management practices of wise use of wetlands. Recognize and prioritize important wetland sites on the basis of their
social, economic, religious, cultural and historical significance. Allocate funds for projects that promote wetlands conservation and the sustainable use of wetlands resources. Conserve flora and fauna without allowing misuse or overuse of
7.3 Recognize and prioritize important wetland sites on the basis of their social, economic, religious, cultural and historical significance.
7.4 Allocate funds for projects that promote wetlands conservation and the sustainable use of wetlands resources.
7.5 Conserve flora and fauna without allowing misuse or overuse of wetlands resources.
7.6 Make provisions for environmental impact assessment according to prevalent laws prior to approving development programmes and activities around wetlands.
7.7 Ensure environmental protection by regularly monitoring development programmes and activities around wetlands.
6. Classification of Wetlands and Management Policy:
Wetlands have been classified into three categories management prespectives.5 4
(a) Wetlands that lie within protected areas or buffer zones.
(b) Government or public wetlands that lie outside the protected areas.
(c) Wetlands in private land.
6.1 Conduct regular studies on the status of wetlands that lie within the protected areas or buffer zones, or the government or public wetlands that lie outside the protected areas, or the wetlands inside private lands, and find out where there is comparatively better conservation and management work.
6.2 Make arrangements to entrust the management responsibilities of wetlands that fall within national parks and wildlife reserves to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
6.3 Make arrangements to entrust the management responsibilities of wetlands that fall within the conservation area to the concerned body.
6.4 Formulate necessary legal arrangements to make the wetlands management activities effective by maintaining coordination and integrating the rights and jurisdictions of concerned bodies if the
wetlands are being managed by different bodies.
6.5 Determine appropriate models of leasehold wetlands, community wetlands, privately managed wetlands and jointly managed wetlands for the effective conservation and management of public wetlands that lie outside the protected areas, and manage them accordingly.
6.6 Enhance local people’s participation in buffer zone management by promoting the wise use of wetlands resources.
6.7 Grant recognition to private or privately owned wetlands as private wetlands and provide necessary training and technical support to enhance the technical and management capacity of the owners of such wetlands. Also, regulate and systematize the wise and sustainable use of wetlands resources along with the protection of genetic resources, conservation of animals, organisms, and birds that are dependant on wetlands.
6.8 Discourage any activities that could change the land use pattern or degrade wetlands or exert negative impact on wetlands to ensure the conservation of private wetland sites.
6.9 Make necessary arrangements for the equitable distribution of benefits arising from wetlands to local inhabitants who are dependant on wetlands.
6.10 Formulate and implement integrated action plan that encourages multidimensional model and promotes wetlands conservation.