Voice of Environment (A Youth Environmental Organization) organized an event ‘Wetland Day for Biodiversity’ to commemorate this year’s World Wetlands Day 2020 on February 2, Sunday at one of the Ramsar Sites of ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ in Guwahati. Voice of Environment, hosted a day program in collaboration with the Environment & Forest Department, Assam, Department of Environmental Science, Royal Global University, Guwahati, and Colours of North-Eastern India. The program commenced with interactive dialogue on wetlands & biodiversity and followed by a series of events having a community walk conducted and led by Partha Sarathi Dhar and Bhaskar Hazarika. The introductory speech was given on Wetland and Biodiversity by Dr. Ritusmita Goswami and Dr. Queen Sarma andfollowed by this session a photo competition, distribution of information broachers on biodiversity aspects to school students and others. A discussion session has conducted with students and locals, especially with the picnic teams near DeeporBeel.
It has undertaken regarding its cleanliness, and ecological importance, which was led by Nalinakshya Chamuah from IIE Guwahati, followed by a signature campaign led by Environmentalist Moharana Choudhury end up a productive day at Deepor Beel, the lifeline of the Smart City Guwahati. Student representatives such as Shuvendhu Khan and Aref Abdal from TISS Guwahati led the bird watching session. The Commitment of Parties to the Ramsar Convention designating Ramsar sites, wetlands of International importance to conserve & wisely use all their wetlands is critical in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
During the event Senior Wildlife Warden P.K Saharia, AFS, G.N Borah, AFS Range Forest Officer Deepor Beel under the Guwahati Wildlife Division along with other forest department officials were present. The meeting at the end has discussed Deepor Beel and its biodiversity aspect and appreciated the team’s initiative.
Every year February 2 is celebrated as World Wetlands Day to raise international awareness about the significant role of wetlands for people & our planet. This day earmarks the date of adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance’ in 1971. Currently, India has 37 Ramsar designated wetlands of international importance. This year’s theme for World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetlands & Biodiversity.’
Wetlands are pertinent for our wellbeing, inclusive economic growth & climate mitigation & adaptation. They are the most significant source of fresh water for our consumption, agriculture, and maintaining our groundwater table by naturally recharging and filtering it. They act as a natural water sink. They are the most significant terrestrial ecosystem for carbon sequestration & working as a natural systematic carbon sink system. They act as an ‘Ecosystem System Based Disaster Risk Reduction’ structure protecting shores and providing cities and settlements with a safe and climate-resilient prospect. They provide sustainable livelihoods for the community welfare and offer a healthy ecosystem for exploring multiple ecosystem services and benefits in parallel to abundant biodiversities, such as ecological systems support. These low-cost EcoDRR structures provide not only community resilience against water-related risks but enabling communities to provide multiple ecosystem services better. Wetlands serve as upstream retention basins protecting downstream cities from flood risk.
