Wet lands are known as ‘Kidneys of earth’. In addition to cleaning of nature and environment, wet lands help earth in many other ways too. When the whole world celebrates February 2 as Worl Wetland Day, the thing that upsets us most is the destruction of this renewable nature resource. Wet lands are areas that link seas with land and hence, they own properties of both water bodies (streams, rivers, ponds, paddy fields) and marshy land.

Ramsar Convention and its message

‘Conserve water and wet lands’ – it’s the message conveyed by Ramsar Convention this year. Ramsar Convention was signed in Ramsar of Iran in the year 1971 by world countries to conserve water bodies and wetlands.

Wetlands absorb water like a sponge, thus protecting the earth from floods. At the same time, they increase water level of earth at drought time. It’s the wetlands that filter rain drops falling to soil. It also splits the chemical wastes making them problem free. Wetlands with mangrove forests play an important role in reducing the chances of tsunamis of coastal belts. It reduces soil erosion also.

Not only small plants and trees, but even parasites and insects have made wetlands their shelters. In addition to giving shelter and feeding animals and birds, wet land is an abundant source of many medicinal plants and edible food items. But misuse and pollution of wet lands have already given rise to life threats to them. Ramsar convention preaches ways, how to control such misuses and pollution of wet lands.

Building a shelter for guests

In addition to residence of many living organizations, it gives shelter to a lot of migrating birds too. Many birds choose such wet lands for food, water, shelter as well as breeding. But leveling such water bodies, reduced level of water and water pollution has reduced their number considerably.

According to reports, 44 types of migrating birds do pay visit backwaters of Kerala. Excess use of pesticides, excess fishing, killing such birds and giving fire to grasslands beside wetlands have reduced their number considerably. If not enough measures are taken to conserve their safety, migrating birds will never visit us during winter. Among 475 species of birds found in Kerala, 128 ones solely depend on wetlands.

Article Posted By : Sandhya Rani  On April 16, 2013lView All Articles

i belong to the state whose back waters have been listed in the top 5 wetlands of the world

Article Source :

http://www.veethi.com/articles/wet-lands-serve-us-a-lot-article-2009.htm

Keywords :
wetlands , ramsar convention , uses of wet lands