Conservation of biodiversity and nature is now considered to be of fundamental
importance for sustaining the global environment. The Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) launched a new era in the protection and conservation of biodiversity worldwide. At
the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002, 190 countries
endorsed a commitment to achieve, by 2010, a significant reduction in the current rate of
biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national levels. Under the CBD, Indian
conservation organizations have obligations to ensure the conservation and enhancement of
habitats and species in both national and international contexts. To meet the goal 1 of CBD
(areas of particular importance to biodiversity protected), it is imperative to study the
relevant indicators (trends in the extent of selected biomes, ecosystems and habitats; coverage
of protected areas) of that component (CBD Target). A major approach for achieving
the target is to implement strict monitoring of biologically rich areas and highlight the
urgent need for up-to-the-minute information on biodiversity and habitat conservation
status. Since wetlands are the most threatened of all biomes, it is essential that
significant conservation attention is given to the same.
Wetlands are important ecosystems that have been evaluated by many researchers in
India in the last few decades (Prasad et
al., 2002; and Vijayan et al., 2004). In many parts of
the world, wetland ecosystems continue to be intensely modified and degraded by human
activities. However, alterations in wetlands may also be caused by agricultural changes coupled
with aquaculture production, urbanization, pollution, etc. Habitat loss has been accompanied
by a decline and loss of freshwater species to a point where the biodiversity of inland
water ecosystems is currently in a far worse condition than that of forest, grassland, or
coastal ecosystems (World Resources Institute et
al., 2000). The status and trends of
biodiversity dependent on inland water ecosystems have recently been reviewed for the CBD,
which concludes that assessment of the areas and distribution of inland wetlands is difficult due
to lack of inventory data (Revenga and Kura, 2003). The Ramsar convention itself stresses
the need for regular monitoring to detect actual or potential change in listed Ramsar sites
(Ramsar Convention Bureau, 1997). The Kolleru wetland has assumed international importance, as
it is a breeding ground and habitat for a large variety of migratory as well as domiciled
birds. Considering the importance, this area was declared as a Ramsar site in the year 2002, and
the government of Andhra Pradesh declared the lake as a wildlife sanctuary in 1999. In
recent years, large-scale aquaculture practices, increased industrial activities, increased number
of human settlements, infrastructure constructions like roads, etc., have exploited the
lake's resources which created an extensive ecological imbalance, thus destabilizing the
sustainability process. Therefore, it is necessary to conserve this wetland ecosystem for its optimum
potential use. This triggers the restoration process ordered by the Honorable Supreme Court of
India for the demolition of aquaculture ponds in 2006, which resulted in the return of the
several vegetation communities. This is a unique exceptional restoration activity in Asia after
the restoration of Chilika lake of Orissa in 2002. |
