Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands

Featured Articles
December 4, 2022 What is the status of inland fisheries in India? Read these situational analysis reports to know about inland fisheries, the life of the fisherfolk, governance and tenure in inland fisheries and threats to the sustainability of inland fisheries.
Fishing in an irrigation canal in Kerala (Image Source: Martin Pilkinton via Wikimedia Commons)
November 25, 2022 These maps at the watershed scales have been made to not only ensure inclusion of different freshwater ecosystems, their connectivity and hydrological processes, but can also provide a spatial context for conservation decisions.
A stream at Anini, Arunachal Pradesh (Image Source: Roshni Arora)
November 16, 2022 Adoption of hybrid solutions - grey and green structures appropriate for resilience building
Healthy wetland ecosystems help in reducing disaster risks and managing climate risks (Image: Pxhere)
October 30, 2022 This book by Dr. Mitul Baruah presents a fascinating, ethnographic account of the challenges faced by communities living in Majuli, India, one of the largest river islands in the world, which has experienced immense socio-environmental transformations over the years, processes that are emblematic of the Brahmaputra Valley as a whole. This is an excerpt from the book.
Floods are recurrent phenomena in Assam (Image: Mitul Baruah)
October 6, 2022 Rapid urbanisation and faulty land use policies are rapidly destroying forests, grasslands and wetlands in Jammu and Kashmir, India and the ecosystem value services they provide. Can these valuable ecosystems be saved?
Deteriorating ecosystems of Jammu and Kashmir, India (Image Source: tkohli at Flickr via Wikimedia Commons)
August 27, 2022 Study looks at microplastic types in lakes of Ladakh
(Vinay Goel, Wikimedia Commons)
Himalayan lakes can potentially become long-term sinks of microplastics
Study looks at microplastic types in lakes of Ladakh Posted on 27 Aug, 2022 03:36 PM

Microplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern. Microplastics are plastic particles with sizes ranging from 1 μm to 5 mm. However, a clear consensus on the definition of microplastics is lacking and even the lower size limit varies among different studies.

(Vinay Goel, Wikimedia Commons)
Andaman mega projects: CERD seeks government response on tribal concerns
News this fortnight Posted on 03 Aug, 2022 03:54 PM

CERD seeks government response on impacts of development projects in Andaman

Havelock, Andaman Island. Photo for representation only (Source: Vikramjit Kakati from Pixabay)
Fragmented waterscapes increase risk of Japanese encephalitis
This first of its kind study found that fragmented water landscapes increased the risk of Japanese Encephalitis by providing more opportunities for mosquito breeding and transmission of the virus from animals to humans via animal hosts. Posted on 25 Jul, 2022 04:13 AM

Japanese encephalitis (JE) - a mosquito borne viral disease, is one of the important causes for childhood mortality in Asia. India has a high burden of the disease with 13.7 percent of 63, 854 acute encephalitis cases from 2010 to 2017 caused due to Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) leading to deaths in 17 percent of these cases with the north-east being a perennial hotspot for outbreaks.

Stagnant waters can encourage mosquito breeding and increase risk of diseases (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Extreme events take 231 lives during pre-monsoon: IMD
News this fortnight Posted on 28 Jun, 2022 02:34 PM

IMD seasonal analysis shows 231 lives lost during the pre-monsoon season due to extreme weather events

Floods during pre-monsoon season claim 81 lives this year. Photo for representation only (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Three mining projects in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo Arand forest on hold following protests
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 28 Jun, 2022 08:05 AM

Chhattishgarh government puts three mining projects in Hasdeo Arand forest on idefinite hold 

A devastated forest at a coal mining site. Photo for representation only (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Poisoned wetlands, toxic fish
Heavy metal pollution is poisoning the East Kolkata wetlands, affecting fish and posing a threat to the health of humans who depend on this fish for their food. Urgent action is needed! Posted on 27 Jun, 2022 12:23 PM

The East Kolkata Wetlands, often referred to as the ‘Kidneys of East Kolkata’, are located on the eastern periphery of Kolkata Metropolitan area and cover 12,500 hectares of area.

Fishermen use wastewater in Kolkata to rear fish (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Regulating water bodies in the Kashmir valley
Implementing the statutory provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2010 for the protection and improvement in the physical integrity of water courses Posted on 19 Jun, 2022 09:48 AM

Nature has bestowed Kashmir valley with abundant water resources on which its vast population depends in myriad ways since time immemorial. People derive their livelihoods from the numerous direct and indirect activities related to these water bodies. In spite of their immense benefits, the water bodies and wetlands are treated as wastelands in Kashmir.

Gil Sar lake, Jammu and Kashmir (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
India's rank continue to fall in the global SDGs Report
News this fortnight Posted on 08 Jun, 2022 12:03 PM

India ranks 121 in the global Sustainable Development Report, 2022

Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 as a part of the 2030 agenda. (Source: Wikipedia Commons)
Conserving India’s freshwater ecosystems: A shared vision
Freshwater ecosystems in India are in peril. We invite comments on this vision document by TNC-India, FES and Ooloi labs that highlights future actions needed to save them. Posted on 04 Jun, 2022 12:43 PM

We invite you to share your comments in the feedback form at the end of this article

Freshwater ecosystems are a basis of life and a precious resource, not only because freshwater is limited, but also because of the rich biodiversity they support and the valuable ecosystem services they provide.

Freshwater ecosystems, in peril! (Image Source: The Nature Conservancy, India)
India’s fantastic freshwater fauna and where to find them
Freshwater ecosystems are not mere sources of water, they are treasure troves of biodiversity. Know more about the fascinating and diverse animal species that inhabit freshwater habitats in India. Posted on 10 May, 2022 05:28 PM

This story originally ran on Cool Green Science, the conservation blog of The Nature Conservancy. It is used here with permission.

Freshwater ecosystems, treasure troves of biodiversity (Image Source: India Water Portal)
×