National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) - UPSC Notes

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of the Government of India initiated a National Wetland Conservation Programme in 1987 with the objective of conserving and managing the wetlands of national importance in the country. NWCP is a broad framework for organizing and funding conservation efforts, especially in view of the vital ecological values of wetlands and their multiple benefits, such as water purification, flood control, maintenance of biodiversity, and others. This program opens the policy window toward wetlands and operationalizes strategies for wetland management, restoration, and sustainable use with various state-level agencies and stakeholders.

The National Wetland Conservation Programme is an important topic from the UPSC Civil Services Examination point of view, more so in General Studies Paper III relating to Environment and Ecology. Within that, it encompasses themes pertaining to biodiversity, protection of the environment, and policies for sustainable development.

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What is the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP)?

The National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) is an initiative launched by India's Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in 1987 aimed at conserving and protecting the country's significant wetland ecosystems. Recognizing the vital ecological functions wetlands perform—such as supporting biodiversity, purifying water, controlling floods, and storing carbon—the NWCP sets out to assess these areas, implement restorative and protective measures, and promote sustainable management practices. The program also focuses on raising awareness, engaging local communities, and enhancing scientific understanding through research and monitoring activities. 

Background of Wetland Conservation

India has a huge range of diversity in respect to the wetland ecosystems themselves, reaching from the high-altitude wetlands in the Himalayas to the coastal wetlands in the peninsular region. Despite their ecological and economic importance, wetlands in India have come under severe threat from urbanization, industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, and unsustainable development practices. Thus, the National Wetland Conservation Programme was conceptualized as a focussed response to the arrested degradation of these important ecosystems and to promote their conservation and wise use.

Read the article on the Wetlands International!

Objectives and Purpose of the National Wetland Conservation Programme

Key objectives of the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) include:

• Identify and Assess: On governance, detailed inventories of wetlands, mapping, and understanding of their ecological characters in order to identify areas of high conservation priority.
• Restore and Manage: Protection, restoration, and rehabilitation projects of degraded wetlands for the sustainability and resilience of these ecosystem services.
• Research and Monitoring: Developing scientific research and monitoring programs that can appropriately inform about wetland ecological dynamics, the impacts of threats, and the effectiveness of management interventions.
• Community Participation: Involving local communities and relevant stakeholders in wetland conservation activities through integration of traditional knowledge with scientific methods on sustainable management and utilization of wetlands.
• Environmental Education and Awareness: To ensure that the general public and decision-makers are aware of the values of wetlands, a pro-conservation attitude is cultivated.

Read the article on the Wetland conservation and management rules 2017!

Issues with the Implementation of the National Wetland Conservation Programme

Though the aims and objectives of NWCP are very laudable, yet it has suffered from various weaknesses:

• Resource constraints: Though the financial resources for the NWCP come from the central government, the funds provided are inadequate in relation to the ground realities.
• Ineffective coordination: Wetland management is an intricate task that involves various central, state, and local agencies. The coordination amongst these agencies has not been uniform.
• Lack of comprehensive data: There is a lack of updated and comprehensive data regarding the present status and extent of wetlands, thus making it difficult to prioritize and plan conservation actions.
• Encroachment and pollution: A good number of wetlands continue to be under encroachment, dumping of wastes, and pollution, which is very difficult to control with the rapid urbanization and industrialization that is setting in.

Funding Pattern

The funds needed for the National Wetland Conservation Programme are almost entirely supplied by the central government, based on the financial inputs contributed to state governments in relation to the different conservation projects under their jurisdictions. Normally, the central government is liable to pay 100% of the grant for such projects. However, considering the vast variety and extent of wetlands in India, their actual financial requirements remain quite above the budgeted allocations, needing supplementation from the state governments or otherwise.

Read the article on Pantanal Wetland!

Importance of Wetlands

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. The most common ecological, hydrological, and socio-economic functions of wetlands include:

• Biodiversity hotspots: Wetlands support a vast array of flora and fauna, of which many are endemic and threatened.
• Water filtration: They work as a natural filter for water by trapping various pollutants and improving its quality.
• Flood control: Wetlands can absorb any excess rainwater and, therefore, often mitigate the impacts of flooding and storm surges.
• Carbon sequestration: They act as reservoirs of carbon and thus help in controlling global warming.
• Livelihood security: Wetlands supply fish, reeds, and water to local communities that form the basis of their livelihood.

Read the article on the Reservation of Wetlands!

Government Initiatives for Wetland Conservation in India

Apart from the NWCP, a few other initiatives by the government have been taken up for the conservation of wetlands in India:

• Wetlands Conservation and Management Rules 2017: This set of rules regulates activities within the wetlands to prevent their degradation and encourages sustainable use.
• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems: This is an umbrella plan combining two earlier separated schemes—NWCP and National Lake Conservation Plan—into a single approach toward the conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
• National Biodiversity Action Plan: It has encompassed identified strategies and actions for protection and sustainable management of wetland biodiversity.

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