Wetlands disappearing due to lack of protection

 

Today is World Wetlands Day. Wetlands, which are considered to be fertile areas for the human world and agriculture and biological diversity, have not been protected.

Lately, wetlands are disappearing due to lack of protection. Conservationists say that wetlands are important habitats for numerous flora and fauna, so it is necessary to protect them.

Shuklaphanta National Park Assistant Conservation Officer Manoj Ayer said that wetlands play an important role in the availability of water for wildlife, birds and humans.

"Talatalaiya, the pond has cultural significance, it is connected with human tradition," he said, "some people are fishing, some are worshiping."

Ayer says that wetlands play an important role in increasing the 'recharge' of water in the low-lying coastal areas and balancing the climate. As the life of animals is dependent on water and without water life cannot exist, it is like the lungs of a person, according to conservation officer Ayer. He pointed out that there are many challenges in protecting the wetlands and said that the lake inside the Shuklaphanta National Park is going to be closed.

"Inside the park, we have been cleaning from time to time, there is a problem of the lake being buried," Ayer said, "The Rani lake inside the park has dried up."

Aquatic plants that come into the water occupy the wetlands. According to conservationists, the elements of grass in wetlands absorb rainwater, thus preventing floods.

Science teacher Chetan Bohra says that wetlands, a unique gift of nature, are providing environmental services and living materials to the human community for free. "Wetlands are also important for maintaining biological diversity and ecological balance, emphasis should be placed on its conservation," he said, "local government needs to take special initiatives to protect wetlands."

Ritu Joshi, a student studying at the Pokhara Campus of the Institute of Forestry, said that hundreds of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals have been sheltered in the wetlands. "Wetlands are equally important for the reproduction of amphibians and reptiles and migratory birds," he said, "Wetlands also control floods."

Wetlands in Kanchanpur are also being encroached and buried every year, so it is important to pay attention to its conservation.