Bhubaneswar: On World Wetlands Day, Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reminded people of the important role wetlands to play in maintaining ecological balance and mitigating the effects of climate change while reiterating his pledge to protect the Ramsar sites of the state.
The CM said, “Wetlands are ‘Kidneys of the Earth’ and play a critical role in ecosystem, climate mitigation and freshwater availability. On World Wetlands Day let’s protect our wetlands which provide a cushion against climate hazards and pledge to preserve Ramsar convention sites of Odisha.”
February 2 is celebrated as World Wetlands Day to raise awareness about the vitality of wetlands for people and planet. The day also marks the date of adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
Six wetlands have so far received Ramsar recognition as wetlands of international importance in Odisha. Recently, Tampara Lake in Ganjam district, Hirakud Reservoir in Sambalpur and Anshupa Lake in Cuttack received recognition. Earlier, Chilika and Bhitarkanika mangrove forests were accorded Ramsar site tag.
“Mangrove swamps are crucial in the removal of hazardous heavy metal-related coastal pollution and in preventing groundwater aquifers from combining with seawater. They also protect against natural disasters like floods, storms, and tsunamis,” said Soumya Ranjan Biswal, an environmentalist, on the occasion.
Across the state, several organisations held awareness programmes on the occasion. Mangrove plantation was conducted at the Kadua River Mouth Wetland in Puri with participation of many grassroots environmentalists such as members of Odisha Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abhiyaan (OPSA), in association with Billions Tree Organization and GenRe, in presence of local fishermen and environment lovers.
“Around 25 people gathered at the site and planted some 500 mangrove plants. These plants were organically grown at the well-maintained nursery of OPSA. Because they can live in both salt and fresh water, mangrove trees dominate the wetland ecology,” said a member of the organisation.
The event also included a panel discussion about the importance of mangrove forests in wetlands. Indian Biodiversity Award 2012 Winning Community Leader Charu Maa and State Biju Patnaik Wildlife Awardee Bichitranand Biswal were present as guests for the occasion.
In another event, a factsheet report on coastal wetlands, prepared by Youth4Water India and Wetlands International South Asia, was unveiled by minister Tusharkanti Behera.
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