Book Chapter
Recommendations for Sustainable Management of Wetlands in Indian Tropics
Nitin Bassi , Ayushi Kashyap, Saiba Gupta
March 2025 | Circular Economy, Sustainable Water
Suggested Citation: Bassi, Nitin, Ayushi Kashyap, and Saiba Gupta. 2025. “Recommendations for Sustainable Management of Wetlands in Indian Tropics.” In Wetlands of Tropical and Subtropical Asia and Africa: Biodiversity, Livelihoods and Conservation, edited by Thammineni Pullaiah, 1–18. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Overview
Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that provide essential ecological, economic, and social benefits. This chapter presents a decadal analysis of wetlands in India, comparing the 2006-07 and 2017-18 assessments to track changes in their distribution and extent. It examines the trends in inland vs. coastal wetlands and natural vs. man-made wetlands and provides state-level insights into wetland growth and loss.
The chapter also highlights India's increasing Ramsar sites and their role in conservation while linking these trends to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.6, which focuses on protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems.
Key Findings
- Increase in wetland numbers and area: Between 2006-07 and 2017-18, the total number of wetlands in India grew by 9 per cent, while the total wetland area increased by 4 per cent, reaching 15.98 million hectares (m ha), covering 4.86 per cent of India's geographical area.
- State-wise trends: The states with the highest number of wetlands in 2017-18 were Tamil Nadu (11.6 per cent), Maharashtra (11.2 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (10.4 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (8 per cent), and Gujarat (7.6 per cent). Gujarat led in wetland area coverage with 21.9 per cent, followed by Maharashtra (7.2 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (7.1 per cent), West Bengal (7.1 per cent), and Uttar Pradesh (6.9 per cent).
- Inland vs coastal wetlands: Inland wetlands accounted for 74 per cent of the total wetland area, while coastal wetlands made up 26 per cent. The number of coastal wetlands grew by 20 per cent, but their area increased only by 1 per cent, indicating fragmentation and reduced expansion.
- Natural vs man-made wetlands: Natural wetlands make up 67 per cent of India’s total wetland area, with minimal change over the decade. However, man-made wetlands (such as reservoirs, tanks, and aquaculture ponds) expanded by 13 per cent in area and 11 per cent in number, reflecting increased water storage and aquaculture activities.
- Growth in Ramsar sites: India has 80 Ramsar sites covering 1.3 million hectares, which is 9 per cent of the country's total wetland area.
- SDG 6.6 implications: While wetland expansion is a positive trend, the conversion of natural wetlands to man-made systems, climate-induced threats, and pollution remain critical challenges. Strengthening policy implementation, financing mechanisms, and community participation is essential for effective conservation.
Key Recommendations
- Strengthen governance by fast-tracking the notification of wetlands and integrating wetland conservation into regional planning by introducing dedicated regulations governing their use.
- Enhance financing in catchment protection, wastewater treatment, and treated wastewater reuse infrastructure by promoting payment for ecosystem services, leveraging public-private partnerships, and mobilising resources through innovative financial mechanisms.
- Improve monitoring and data by enhancing real-time tracking, using remote sensing technologies, and increasing the frequency and coverage of water quality assessments for wetland conservation.
- Foster international cooperation and encourage knowledge sharing for sustainable wetland management by strengthening collaboration through platforms like the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA) and the G20 Water Platform.
The findings of the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment reveal that most wetland types have shown a positive change in area and numbers, but the conversion of natural wetlands to man-made systems, climate-induced threats, and anthropogenic pressures remain key challenges, necessitating stronger governance, financing, and community engagement for sustainable wetland management.
