O P Sharma Vidyarthi
Wetlands are ecotone zones with unique assembelage of aquatic and marsh biodiversity ,storehouse of aquatic vegetal and animal edible products ,source of drinking or bathing water ,breeding place for water insects and birds ,natural reservoirs for flood waters intimately associated with religious ceremonies and rituals in places like Mansar Saruinsar which are Ramsar wetlands and stand accorded international significance under the intergovernmental treaty called Ramsar convention that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain ecological character of the wetlands . Wetlands are most threatened ecosystems due to urbanization ,land reclamation ,water pollution , deforestation in catchment areas ,road building and overexploitation for commercial gains .
World Wetland Day commemorating ratification of Ramsar Convention on 2nd February 1971 signifying international commitment to save waterbodies is an occasion to reconnect to old values and sacred rituals which adored wetlands as meaningful creation of God and communities nurtured their reverence by way of religious outlook so that waterbodies are kept clean ,unpolluted to serve larger interest of ground water recharge ,prevention of floods ,providing potable water , providing recreation and peace to the sages and saints to preach harmonius coexistence with nature .
Mansar lake revered through ages attracted devotees ,pilgrims ,nature lovers ,bird watchers and due to its religious and ecofriendly association with local communities ,nature in its creative water laboratory engineered evolution of magnificent creatures like wheel animalcules , water beetles , skipper frogs , soft shelled turtles , long legged water hens , floating duck weeds , rooted lotuses , blushing knotweeds , spiky reeds and swamp cabbages .Poets ,writers,painters have derived inspiration to create new thoughts and guide generations through literature ,music and fine arts . Many artists ,painters ,sculptors and writers of present times are in search of serene and tranquil ambience of such wetlands where they can innovate and create various forms of fine arts and literature .
Mansar lake has the unique distinction of nurturing unknown fresh water medusan cnidarian animalcule reported for the first time in 1976 by a team of Zoologists namely Prof Y R Malhotra ,P L Duda and M K Jyoti ,it was altogether a new creature which evolved in lake Mansar due to its unpolluted virgin religious ambience . Scientists named the creature after Mansar lake as Mansariella lacustris as new species in the world of science .
Wetlands are now in distress , lake Anchar in Kashmir ,Sannasar in Jammu are mere seasonal pools of water ,Gharana an Important Bird Area is whispering its woes along whispers of Barheaded geese ,storks and cormorants , Kunjwani pond with its rare assemblage of fresh water sponges is non-existent , Wallur has its own sighs and sorrows under the willows ,Dal water is not able to take refreshing breaths . In such a scenario , civil society , electronic and print media ,governmental and non-governmental groups’s conservation efforts need to be synergized at various levels to preserve and conserve wetlands for revial of not only ecological functions but also religious connections we inherited to transmit them down the future generations for perpetual prosperity of web of life as visualized by our ancestors who despite being not so literate and experts nurtured reverence for nature’s myriad manifestations in a need based lifestyle with unwavering focus on coexistence and ecofriendly respect for nature that today’s planners and managers need to emulate and perpetuate.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel