Wetland RestorationSansanee Choowaew

Wetland restoration / rehabilitation• Difference is still not clear.• “Restoration” – a return to pre-disturbance

conditions• “Rehabilitation” – an improvement of wetland

functions without necessarily returning to pre-disturbance conditions

• These 2 words are often used interchangeably, both within Ramsar documents and within the conservation literature.

Principles• Based on the national wetland inventory,

wetlands with potential for restoration should be identified, and wetland restoration programmeshould be established as part of national wetland policy and management strategy.

• Clear restoration goals, objectives, and performance standards should be established, recognizing the multiple functions of wetlands.

• Careful planning will limit the possibility of undesirable side effects (e.g. saline intrusion into source of drinking water, hydrological change, etc.). Assessment of the site under consideration and related factors, is needed.

Principles (continued)• Natural processes and existing conditions should

be considered during project selection, design, and development.

• The maintenance & conservation of existing wetlands is always preferable & more economical than “restoration”. Currently available restoration techniques almost never lead to conditions that match those of natural wetlands.

• Ecological engineering (Eco-engineering) concept should be applied, rather than focusing on hard structures or extensive excavation.

Principles (continued)• Wetland restoration planning should be at the

catchment level, and should not ignore the value of upland habitats and linkages between upland and wetland habitats.

• Wetland restoration should be an open process, fully involves local community stakeholders and those who will be affected by a project (no matter how far they settle, esp downstream) from the earliest stage.

• Successful restoration should be designed for self-maintenance with long-term stewardship for management and monitoring.

Principles (continued)• Wetland restoration planning should incorporate

knowledge of traditional resource management and sustainable harvesting practices.

• The principles of Adaptive Management should be applied. As a restoration project develops, modifications may be necessary and should be designed based on the evaluation of project goals, objectives, and performance standards.

• Information on a restoration project proposal & its consequences should be widely disseminated and accessible to stakeholders.

Principles (continued)• Wetland restoration should be coupled with

awareness raising, ensuring that the causes and effects of wetland degradation are addressed.

• more in the reading materials provided.

GuidelinesMajor steps :• Select a site• Identify stakeholders & involve them from the

earliest stage & all the way• Set up goals, objectives, performance standards

project directione.g. Goal : to increase wildlife habitat quality

Objective : to improve habitat value for certain species e.g. migratory birds

Performance standards : number of birdsthat are expected to use the site after restoration completed.

Guidelines (continued)• Identify a monitoring method to be used to assess

performance standards• Project goals, objectives, performance standards,

monitoring methods should be widely publicized• Project design (with possible alternatives/options)• Comparisons on rough cost estimates• Develop and implement a pilot project to test and

refine the restoration methods; restoration project should be considered experimental in nature. Revision can be made (not considered as signs of failure).

• So, take times ! Results – not seen in short time !

Example : Wetland RestorationChilika Lagoon – A Ramsar Site, Orissa, India

- The largest brackish lagoon of India (116,500 ha)-Designated as Ramsar Site (1981) - High biodiversity : water-birds, migratory birds, (165 species) Irrawaddy dolphins, fish (217 species), flowering plants (710 species) - 132 fishermen villages (150,000 fisherfolk)

*

http://www.chilika.com

Fisheries : major activity

เครื่องมือประมงพื้นบาน

Traditional fisheries & fishing gears

Fertility & Productivity

PROBLEMS• Siltation (deforestation in the upper watershed; 52 rivers & streams

bring 0.37 million cu.m. of sediments into the lagoon; shallowness)• Shrinkage of the water surface area (due to siltation & poor flushing

action, 824 sqkm (1972-73 : India Topo-sheet) 790 sqkm (1986 : LandSat-5)

• Choking of the inlet & outlet channel connecting the sea (obstructing the discharge of freshwater & sediments into the sea and the inflow of sea water into the lagoon)

• Decrease in salinity• Weed (emergents, floating, submerged) infestation (weed covered area

: 20, 60, 200, 398, 427 sqkm in 1973, 1977, 1985, 1993, 2001) less feeding & breeding ground of many economic fish; navigation problems; no free-flow of sediments

• Decrease in fisheries productivity (due to siltation & poor inflow and outflow)

• Overall loss of biodiversity (due to bird hunting, bad water quality)listed on the Montreux Record (1993)

MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONSthe Government of Orissa established the

CDA - CHILIKA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (1991)

• For the overall development of the lagoon (restoration, wise use, integrated management, capacity building, etc.)

• Chaired by the Chief Minister; having a CEO• Recognizing the gaps in available information which is a

pre-requisite for a holistic planning & detailed design of an integrated management plan (both short-term plan to address critical issues and sustainable long-term management plan to achieve the ultimate goals)

the CDA commissioned the services of premier scientific institutions of the country and abroad to generate data essential for sustainable comprehensive management plan formulation (2.7 million Rupees – a special problem grant received for the eco-restoration)

MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS• Based on the scientific studies, the Ocean Engineering

Center, IITM, formulated the design of a site specific dredger to desilt the outlet channel of the lagoon.

• Considering the sensitivity of the lagoon, the services of NIO Goa were commissioned to conduct the EIA to assess the impact of the dredging on the lagoon ecosystem.

• Based on the findings of the 3-D numerical model studies, it recommended that an artificial mouth at a distance of 11 km from the lake would improve the salinity flux into the lagoon by 40% and the tidal flux by 45%. This would rejuvenate the lagoon ecosystem and the desired salinity level (15 ppt).

the opening of a new mouth (September 2000)

MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS• Close monitoring of the lagoon to assess the impact of

desiltation• Certain positive indicators : e.g. a species of prawn

indigenous to the lagoon (thought to be almost extinct from the lagoon since the past 6-7 years) re-appeared.

• The opening of the new mouth has been considered a historic and successful intervention, with positive visible impacts : salinity increase; auto-recruitment of fish, prawn, crab; significant increase in fish landing (from 1,600 MTs in 1994 to 4,889 MTs in 2001) and prawn & crab landing; improved the depth of the channel and flushing out of sediments; enhanced fish migration; enhanced migratory bird species.

MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS• Other management strategies :

– Land transformation studies in catchment areas; participatory & integrated watershed management

– Improvement of habitat at the Sanctuary– Weed management (72 biogas plants installed by CDA in

3 villages using the weed from the lagoon; production of green manure, etc.)

– Improvement of communication network– Fishery resource development (via legislation)– Socioeconomic intervention ; - Ecotourism– Awareness raising & environmental education (set up a

fully equipped Visitors’ Center – Center for Environment Education))

– Wetland Research Center - others ………..

SUCCESSChilika Lagoon was removed from the

Montreux Record (2001)received the Ramsar Award (COP8) and

Evian Special Prize 2002 (2002) – 10,000 USD

The new mouth

http://www.chilika.com

CEAE : Center for EnvironmentalAwareness & Education

Awareness raising : folklore & folk dance performance

Wetland Research Center (under construction)

http://www.chilika.com

Shantou Wetland,

China

Peat swamp forest : Sustainable harvesting

• Long felling cycle•Not opening all area•Same ratio of valuable species•Plantation program on heavily destroyed area•Improved machine•Tag marked tree and log•Ecological monitoring package•Ramin-Bintangor dominance forest types were selected in peat swamp forest for optimum harvesting regimes, 200000 ha of forest

U Minh Thuong, Vietnam- Fire suppression efforts + long-term strategies for fire management- Biodiversity conservation- Conservation of wildlife habitats

Peatswamp fprest fire 1998 Surface fire suppressionusing sand

Fire suppression : Manual ditching

Fire suppression : Mechanical ditching

Finished ditchFire suppression :Water +swatter/beater

Mop Up : Making Black line

Coastal barrier

A fish ladder constructed to mitigate problem of fish migration, Pak Mun Dam, Thailand

EXERCISE

• Country Group Work• Present & Share with your colleagues :

some good & not good cases of wetland restoration efforts you have come across in your country

• Describe KEY FACTORS influencing the strength & weakness