Ecosystem Conservation: Wetlands, Mangroves & Corals

UPSC Mains PYQs

Ecosystem Services & Wetlands (2018): "Wetlands are often referred to as the 'Kidneys of the Landscape' because of their natural water filtration capacity." Explain the four categories of ecosystem services and discuss the threat of eutrophication. Assess the role of the Amrit Dharohar Scheme in wetland diplomacy. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
Mangrove Conservation (2019): Discuss the ecological role of mangroves in coastal defense against cyclonic storms. Evaluate the MISHTI scheme in aligning coastal afforestation with local community livelihood targets. (10 Marks, 150 Words)

📊 High-Yield Data & Statistical Fact Sheet

Ecosystem Extent & Status:
- Mangrove Buffer: India has 4,991.68 sq km of mangrove cover (~0.15% of TGA), anchored by the Sundarbans.
- Ramsar Distribution: 99 Ramsar sites in total; Tamil Nadu leads with 20 sites, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 12.
- Groundwater Scarcity: CGWB classifies 14% of groundwater blocks as over-exploited.
- Water Stress Metric: Per capita water availability has dropped to 1,486 cubic meters, pushing India below the global water-stress threshold.

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1. VALUATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Ecosystem services are the biological benefits humans derive from nature (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework):

Provisioning Services: Tangible commodities harvested directly (e.g., food, timber, freshwater, and medicinal plants).
Regulating Services: Environmental regulation benefits (e.g., carbon sequestration, micro-climate control, water filtration, and crop pollination).
Supporting Services: Fundamental ecological processes necessary for all other services (e.g., soil formation, nutrient cycling, and primary biomass production).
Cultural Services: Non-material values (e.g., aesthetic appreciation, religious sacred groves, and ecotourism).
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES): Setting up financial compensations for local and tribal custodians who protect regional watersheds and carbon reserves.

Wetland Conservation (Amrit Dharohar): National initiative to preserve the ecological character of Ramsar sites. Focuses on local community employment, nature-based tourism, and conserving water-logged carbon sinks.
Mangrove Restoration (MISHTI):
- Mechanism: Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes.
- Funding Convergence: Merges resources from MGNREGS (rural labor) and CAMPA (compensatory forestry fund) to plant mangroves on coastal mudflats and salt flats.
Coral Reef Restoration (Biorock Technology): Submerging steel frames with low-voltage electrical currents. The current accelerates calcium carbonate crystallization, allowing corals to grow 3x to 4x faster and survive thermal stress.

Grassland Wasteland Tag: Grasslands are historically classified as "wastelands" in official land records. This allows their diversion for industrial plants and solar fields, threatening species like the Great Indian Bustard (GIB).
Ecosystem Fragmentation: Linear structures (roads, rail lines) divide habitats, causing genetic isolation and human-wildlife conflicts.
Eutrophication: Nitrogen-phosphorus agricultural runoff causes massive algal blooms, depleting dissolved oxygen and creating aquatic dead zones.

Coastal Afforestation Scheme: MISHTI (MGNREGS + CAMPA).
Wetland Stewardship Scheme: Amrit Dharohar.
Coral Accretion Tech: Biorock Technology.
Ecosystem Service Categories: 4 Categories (Provisioning, Regulating, Supporting, Cultural).
Grassland Threat Matrix: Classified as Wastelands in official records.
Aquatic Oxygen Depletion Process: Eutrophication (nutrient overload).
Per Capita Water Stress Limit: 1,700 cubic meters (India is at 1,486).

Notes updated up to March 2026. Sources: MoEFCC guidelines, CGWB data.