An introduction to wetlands, their importance uses and geographical locations in the country

1. Presentation by Maneka Mirchandaney, Std XII, Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore
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Design assistance by Thara Thomas

2. What is a wetland?
Wetlands are Wetlands are interface between
ecosystems Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems .
whose formation, It is an area of land whose soil is
processes and Saturated with moisture either
characteristics are permanently or for a long enough
determined by season every year to support aquatic plants.
water.
Wetlands are not
necessarily "wet"
all year round
They have been called the
'nature's kidneys'
because they cleanse our
environment.

3. Facts About Wetlands
Wetlands are typically low-lying areas
They can be natural or man-made
They can be coastal or inland
Floodplains, swamps, marshes, mangroves
deltas and lakes are some types of wetlands.
A paddy farm is also a wetland
Wetlands can contain fresh water, salt water,
or brackish (a combination of the two)
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4. Ashtamudi (Wetland)
Bhitarkanika (Mangroves)
Bhoj (Wetland)
Chandertal (Wetland)
Chilika (Lake)
Deepor Beel
East Calcutta (Wetlands)
Harike (Lake)
Hokera (Wetland)
Kanjli
Keoladeo (National Park)
Kolleru (Lake)
Loktak (Lake)
Point Calimere (Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary)
Pong Dam (Lake)
Renuka (Lake)
Ropar
Rudrasagar (Lake)
Sambhar (Lake)
Sasthamkotta (Lake)
Some important Surinsar – Mansar (Lakes)
wetlands
Tsomoriri
Vembanad-Kol (Wetland)
in India Wular (Lake)
Upper Ganga River (Narora to Brijghat stretch)
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5. Importance of wetlands
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in
the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs.
They provide rich habitat for Many species of birds and
an immense variety of mammals rely on wetlands for
species of microbes, food, water, and shelter, especially
plants, insects, during migration and
amphibians, reptiles, breeding.
birds, fish, and
mammals.
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6. Uses of wetlands water management
Think of a wetland as a huge sponge
Wetlands store water when This helps in recharge and
it is in excess and release discharge of groundwater
it to the ground during dry
periods
They assist in flood control
They reduce the momentum of water as it flows to
a river or a stream, thereby reducing soil erosion
They are also important to the
nutrient cycle.
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7. Uses of wetlands environmental
Wetlands plants Wetlands help Plants that grow in Many wetlands
and soil store retain sediments wetlands are very remove pollutants
carbon instead of and increase soil effective in filtering from surface runoff
releasing it to the fertility out water pollution and small streams.
atmosphere as
carbon dioxide.
Thus they help
moderate global Mangroves can protect shorelines from strong winds and can
climate reduce the impact of hurricanes and tsunamis
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8. Uses of wetlands – economic
Wetlands provide livelihoods by being a source of (Consumptive use )
•Agricultural produce
•Craft materials
•timber production
•Medicinal plants
•Fishing
•Hunting
They can also be recreation spaces (non-consumptive uses )
Wetlands provide opportunities for humans to enjoy outdoor activities,
such as canoeing, fishing, and bird watching.
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9. How wetlands work
Contaminants and sediments are filtered.
Provides critical wildlife habitat
Cleaner water outflow

10. Threats to wetlands Natural
Natural disasters like hurricanes and floods
Over grazing by wildlife
Drought

11. Threats to wetlands Anthropogenic
1.Development
Draining out wetlands for construction
Damming them to form lakes or ponds
Diverting water flow
2.Pollution
3. Sand and gravel mining
4. Global warming
5. Acid rain

12. Ramsar convention
The Convention on Wetlands -- called the "Ramsar Convention" – was signed
in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
An intergovernmental treaty - embodies the commitments of its member
countries to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands
in their territories.
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13. What can we do?
DO A PROJECT
SHOW IT TO YOUR CLASS
TALK TO THE OWNER OF A WETLAND
Take an initiative, talk to the owners of a wetland on preserving them.
ORGANIZE A FIELD TRIP
Organize a class field trip to a wetland (preferably a destroyed one)
and explain about the history of the wetland and why it was destroyed.
MAKE SURE YOUR HOUSE ISN’T BUILT ON WETLAND

14. Hi! I’m the quiz master!
Click on the button with
the right answer.
Good luck!
Quiz master

15. Q. 1 Which of these is NOT a use of wetlands?
To clean the Sedimentation of Swimming and
environment rocks other sports

16. Wrong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry!
The right answer is
“Swimming and other
water sports.”
Quiz master

17. Correct!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo!
That is right!
Congratulations!
Quiz master

18. Q. 2 Which fact about a wetland is right?
A wetland always There is always A wetland is a low
has a pH level shellfish in a wetland area where the land
above 9.5 is filled with water

19. Wrong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry!
The right answer is
“A wetland is a low area where
the land is filled with water.”
Quiz master

20. Correct!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo!
That is right!
Congratulations!
Quiz master

21. Q. 3 What is NOT a way to help increase awareness
about wetlands?
Play games on the Do a project on Organize a field trip
computer wetlands to a wetland

22. Wrong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry!
That is wrong! The right answer is
“Play games on the computer.”
Quiz master

23. Correct!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo!
That is right!
Congratulations!
Quiz master

24. Q. 4 What is a good pH level for a wetland?
4.0 7.5 9.5

25. Wrong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry!
That is wrong! The right answer is
“7.5”
“7.5”
Quiz master

26. Correct!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo!
That is right!
Congratulations!
Quiz master
“7.5”

27. Q. 5 Which one of these is NOT a type of wetland?
Marsh Reservoir Swimming pool

28. Wrong!!!!!!!!!
Sorry!
That is wrong! The right answer is
“Swimming pool”
Quiz master

29. Correct!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo!
That is right!
Congratulations!
Quiz master

30. Activities
Here is an activity you can do in class
Step 1
Divide your class into groups of not more than 5 people each.
Step 2
Use the facts on the next page (note : some of them are false) and give
each group a few facts, equal amounts of true and false.
Step 3
Each group in turn says one fact. After they say it, someone from another
group has to say whether the fact is true or false.
If he/she is right, the team gets a point. If he/she is wrong, they lose a point.
The team with the most points wins.

31. Facts
The water hyacinth is a plant
A wetland is always natural
The water should have a pH level between 6.5 and 8.5
Mangroves are groves of mango trees
. True
If the water is acidic then it is hard for animals to live
Wetlands always have salty water
False
Wetlands provide a good habitat for animals
4.0 is a good pH level for a wetland
Reeds can be found in wetlands
Building a house on a wetland is good
.
These are just a few facts that you can use, why not try making some more?

32. A word search on Ramsar sites in India
B A S I R I R O M O S T K V U
L K W D E E P O R B E E L S P
O I A L I K A P O N G D A M O
S N O E D A L O E K E S M Z I
U A M E S N O R W U T A B A N
R K M C T O K S X H R P R U T
E R X B A M T U A K I L I H C
L A A S H T A M U D I U L R A
L T Y J D A K T Z O Y R J P L
O I O I F O R R E R A S N H I
K H A T T U C L A C T S A E M
B B O T G L Q L S P E Q K S E
W E A E H J U V D M O W C O R
S T C A I W P Y A H A R I K E
L O K D A N A B M E V I A M Y
Find the following:
Ashtamudi, Bhitarkanika, Bhoj, Chilika, Deepor Beel, East Calcutta, Harike,
Kanjli, Keoladeo, Kolleru, Loktak, Point Calimere, Pong Dam, Ropar, Sambhar,
Sasthamkotta, Tsomoriri, Vembanad-Kol, Wular
Can you name the states where these wetlands are found?
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33. A word search on Ramsar sites in India answers
B A S I R I R O M O S T K V U
L K W D E E P O R B E E L S P
O I A L I K A P O N G D A M O
S N O E D A L O E K E S M Z I
U A M E S N O R W U T A B A N
R K M C T O K S X H R P R U T
E R X B A M T U A K I L I H C
L A A S H T A M U D I U L R A
L T Y J D A K T Z O Y R J P L
O I O I F O R R E R A S N H I
K H A T T U C L A C T S A E M
B B O T G L Q L S P E Q K S E
W E A E H J U V D M O W C O R
S T C A I W P Y A H A R I K E
L O K D A N A B M E V I A M Y
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34. Now that you know about wetlands, take a step forward and do something!
(See slide 13 for ideas)
Watching this slideshow will not only help you, but can help other
people, animals and plants. It can help the environment, but you need to
start and set the trend.
Let other people know about the destruction of wetlands. MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
Thank you!

35. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Wetland_restoration_in_Australia.jpg/800px-
Wetland_restoration_in_Australia.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Wetlands_boardwalk.jpg
http://cdn.wn.com/pd/8a/9b/da2bf7243e0118fed8e1fdd2716d_grande.jpg
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/31/images/state-swamp.jpg
http://en.wikivisual.com/images/7/72/Wetland500.JPG
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobistraveling/3686484594/
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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2181766735_3f20f3ddb6_b.jpg
http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Wetlands_for_Kids
http://assets.panda.org/img/original/wetlandservices.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/317488203_967e4514e6_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2978989663_ba70aa80e2_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4276781301_4ec88b01a4_b.jpg
http://earthdimensions.com/mitigation.aspx
http://clintonschoolblog.com/cblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/wetlands.jpg
http://www.davis-excavating.com/images/lafarge1.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/381634787_f52e84a5af_b.jpg
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