World's wetlands celebrated on their own day

By George Sitania

BOGOR (JP): This archipelago's 17,500 islands cover 38 million hectares of land, of which 21 percent is wetlands, the largest area in Asia.

These span 34 million hectares, of which 3.6 million hectares are protected. They hold 32 percent of all the world's reptile species, 24 percent of the amphibian species and, including the territorial waters, at least 25 percent of the fish species.

These statistics are a reminder of the huge amount of biodiversity in our wetlands, riches which should be maintained for the present generation and preserved for those in the future.

Most of us still have a vague understanding of what wetlands are. It may have never occurred to us that we can clump rivers, lakes, swamps, marshes, mangroves and coral reefs under this one term, or lahan basah.

Yet wetlands in all their forms are intrinsic to the lives of this nation's people. An estimated 69 percent of the population earns its livelihood directly from wetlands, mainly through agriculture and fisheries.

The status of wetlands among the most important and productive ecosystems in the world has attracted international attention since 1971. In that year, the first convention on the international importance of wetlands, especially as waterfowl habitat, was held in Ramsar, Irian Jaya. To date, almost 200 countries have ratified this convention.

The Ramsar Convention in Brisbane in 1996 designated Feb. 2, the anniversary of the first Ramsar Convention, as World Wetland Day. This concept gives wide opportunities for reminders of wetland loss through education and public awareness programs to disseminate information. This in turn builds perceptions and changes attitudes toward this wonderful ecosystem.

This special date will remind us of wetland loss, especially lost of wetlands' endanger flora and fauna species. Wetland loss in Indonesia covers 9.3 percent, and this is also happening in other developed and developing countries.

The 1998 World Wetland Day theme was water, the lifeblood of our planet. The earth's ecosystems are linked and maintained by water, which drives plant growth and provides a habitat for many animals, such as 8,500 types of fish and most of the world's 4,200 species of amphibians and reptiles described so far.

Water is also a universal solvent and provides the major pathway for the flow of sediment, nutrients and pollutants. With water crises facing many countries, it seems an immense task just to ensure there is enough for people to drink, let alone for agricultural and industrial uses.

Dibjo Sartono, program director of Indonesia's Wetlands International, said the country could face a shortage of water due to its misusage.

"Over the last decade, we realize that we have used water improperly, and we are threatened with a lack in water."

"Through 1997, the impact of the El Nio in Indonesia gave us a clear sign of the water supply, and that there many areas with no water and many living creatures weakening and dying out."

He said the theme was expected to remind people of the proper use of water and the management of the water supply.

"We can be assured to have water forever, and also assured that the living creatures live forever."

In celebrating this year's event, Indonesia's activities included a seminar and a mangrove planting program. The seminar, Indonesian Wetlands Face Towards 1998 World Wetland Day, was held last December by the Ministry of Environment and Wetlands International-Indonesia Program.

The mangrove planting, organized by the School of Fisheries of Bogor Agricultural Institute, was held in Cikeong, Karawang, West Java, last Sunday. The 120 participants included college students of the institute and staff of the Wetlands International- Indonesia Program.

Conserving our wetlands will take several steps, which include protecting and managing swamps, lakes and mangroves. Peat swamps, especially those developed on peat domes, perform an important hydrological function by retaining water in the wet season and releasing it slowly in the dry season.

Swamps, lakes and rivers should be maintained for water resources and for drinking water, and we should safeguard our peat swamps to protect wildlife, including rare or endangered species.

Efforts should be made to maintain natural and artificial lakes and rivers at domestic tourist destinations -- Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and Situ Patenggang in Bandung are two examples -- to support the local economies.

Preservation of mangrove forests halts saltwater intrusion into groundwater supplies and coastal erosion.

Along with the above strategy, program awareness and dissemination of information are vital.

The word should get out to policymakers and communities. The latter need to receive their information through easily understandable brochures, newspaper articles, radio broadcasts, information packets the holding of public meetings about the importance of wetlands. There is also a role for environmental education in schools and universities.

The writer is communication officer for the Indonesian Program of Wetlands International in Bogor.