A wetland is an area of land that is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands can be found where water accumulates at or near the surface, creating ecosystems distinct from aquatic and terrestrial environments. Wetlands are characterized by water-tolerant plants (hydrophytes) and specific soil types (hydric soil) formed under wet conditions. The type-wise wetland distribution refers to the classification and spatial distribution of different types of wetlands within a specified area, measured in hectares (ha). Wetlands are categorized based on their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, influencing their ecological functions and services.
India’s wetland landscape is remarkably diverse, as it spans from coastal mangroves to high-altitude lakes. Gujarat emerges as the state with the largest wetland area of 3,499,429 hectares, in which a significant portion consists of intertidal mud flats (2,142,215 ha) and coastal salt marshes (136,397 ha). This extensive coastal wetland system underscores Gujarat’s important role in supporting coastal ecosystems and migratory bird populations. Additionally, there are some other states as well with substantial amounts of wetland areas—each exceeding one million hectares—in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. These states predominantly showcase a mix of inland and coastal wetlands, highlighting the diversity within individual states. For instance, West Bengal has a significant area under mangroves (221,410 ha), reflecting the importance of the Sundarban ecosystem.
Rivers and streams emerge as one of the most dominant wetland types across many states, particularly in West Bengal (654,344 ha), Uttar Pradesh (612,856 ha), and Assam (705,210 ha). This emphasises the vital role of riverine ecosystems in India’s wetland geography as well as their importance in biodiversity and human livelihoods. Moreover, reservoirs and barrages are also some of the most important wetland kinds in this nation, especially prominent in states like Maharashtra (488,461 ha) and Madhya Pradesh (486,091 ha). It reflects the impact of water management infrastructure on India’s wetland landscape.
The data also highlights our country’s distinctive wetland features in different regions. For instance, high-altitude wetlands are predominantly significant in Ladakh (112,113 ha) and Sikkim (2,991 ha), representing fragile mountain ecosystems. On the other hand, Coral reefs are prominent in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (54,770 ha) and Lakshadweep (55,639 ha), emphasizing the ecological importance of these island territories. Interestingly, large portions of states like Andhra Pradesh (321,647 ha), Tamil Nadu (277,065 ha) and Karnataka (304,625 ha) are covered by man-made wetlands, especially tanks and ponds. This indicates the historical and ongoing human role in shaping India’s wetland ecology. Inland salt pans in states like Rajasthan (18,721 ha) and coastal salt pans in Gujarat (192,287 ha) highlight the diversity of saline ecosystems across India’s landscape. Inland and coastal aquaculture ponds are notable in several states, with Andhra Pradesh leading in both categories (119,961 ha inland and 129,358 ha coastal). This reflects the growing importance of aquaculture in India’s economy and its impact on wetland ecosystems.
However, some Indian states, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, show a more even distribution across different wetland types. In contrast, others like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are dominated by specific types such as reservoirs and rivers. India’s complex wetland distribution highlights the need for state-specific approaches to wetland conservation, considering each region’s unique composition of wetland types. It also underscores the importance of both natural and man-made wetlands in India’s ecological landscape, emphasizing the need for balanced approaches that consider human needs and ecological preservation. Overall, this comprehensive wetland distribution analysis provides a snapshot of India’s aquatic ecosystem diversity and a valuable resource for sustainable wetland management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation strategies across the country.
References
- EnviStats India 2024: Environment Statistics | Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation | Government of India. (n.d.). https://www.mospi.gov.in/publication/envistats-india-2024-environment-statistics
- Press Note on EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts. (n.d.). https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2060296
About Author
Pankaj Chowdhury is a former Research Assistant at the International Economic Association. He holds a Master’s degree in Demography & Biostatistics from the International Institute for Population Sciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Visva-Bharati University. His primary research interests focus on exploring new dimensions of in computational social science and digital demography.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of 360 Analytika.
Acknowledgement: The author extends his gratitude to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for providing data support.
This article is posted by Sahil Shekh, Editor-in-Chief at 360 Analytika.
