Thirty-five wetlands in the east of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have been officially notified and are now protected by law. Until now, these ponds and marshes could be drained, filled in or built over without any authority being obliged to step in.
The notification by the State Wetland Authority is the result of work begun in 2019 by the Wildlife Trust of India, which studied 49 wetlands in ten districts, with maps, field surveys and help from local committees set up in the villages.
The protection covers 1,243.8 hectares of wetland plus their zones of influence, totalling 13,888.5 hectares and including the fields and channels that feed them. Filling in, encroachment and dumping of waste and effluent are banned, while traditional uses such as fishing and grazing remain allowed under regulation.
These wetlands are vital for local people and for the sarus crane, the world’s tallest flying bird, which nests there. The project was supported by Tata Trusts and the World Land Trust.
