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Naveen releases State Wetland Atlas

BHUBANESWAR: Satellite data obtained by the Orissa Space Application Centre (ORSAC) finds 78,440 wetlands covering an area of whopping 690904 ha of area exist in the State. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Monday released the State Wetland Atlas which was jointly prepared for the first time by ORSAC and Space Application Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad using Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) data.

According to ORSAC, area estimates of the various wetland categories have been carried out using GIS (Geographic Information System) layers of wetland boundary, water-spread, aquatic vegetation, and turbidity.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Patnaik said the atlas would go a long way for doing progressive planning for sustainable development and it would act as base for many researches.

“As many as 12,266 wetlands have been delineated. In addition to 66,174 small wetlands (less than 2.25 ha) have also been distinguished,” ORSAC report said.

Total wetland area is estimated to be 6,90,904 ha with inland wetlands dominating the extent of wetlands. Inland wetlands constitute about 66 per cent. Besides, inland natural and man-made wetlands have shares of about 34 and 32 per cent respectively. Out of 24 per cent of coastal wetlands, the natural resources accounted for about 20 per cent and the rest three per cent shared by man-made wetlands. The atlas contains information on district-wise wetlands. Scientists believe that the information will prove to be quite useful for knowing the status and recharge areas of wetlands, gauging irrigation potential, planning aquaculture development, and development of eco-tourism area.

Wetlands signify a characteristic ecosystem on the earth and play a valuable and critical role in the functioning and maintenance of high levels of carrying capacity of the ecosystem.

Information on wetlands is likely to solve a number of issues related to stress factor. Preparation of wetland atlas is part of the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment project of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, said A. K. Mohapatra, Chief Executive of ORSAC.

The wetland mapping and inventory has been done on 1:50000 scale and analysis of digital Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite LISS-III data of post and pre-monsoon seasons (2006-07). The atlas will be handy for all the resource planners, decision makers and various stake holders to prepare action plan for various development works.

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