Two days after the World celebrated World's Wetlands Day, in an attempt to raise awareness about conservation of the Wetlands, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Western regional centre conducted a session with architecture students of Rachana Sansad Institute, Dadar to make the upcoming architects of the
city realise the value of wetlands and sustainable development.

TERI for the first time will also map all water bodies in Mumbai. The institute will work in collaboration with the
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The mapping will help respective civic bodies to request for funds allocated for preservation of wetlands from the ministry of water resources.

About 18.4 per cent area of the country comprises wetlands. Of the 94 wetlands identified under the National Wetland Conservation and Management Programme, only three are in Maharashtra.

For the last few years, water bodies in and around Mumbai are facing pressures because of urbanisation, water pollution, land reclamation, debris dumping as well as sand dredging.

18.4%
Area covered by wetlands

94
Number of wetlands identified under the National Wetland Conservation and Management Programme

What is world's wetlands day?
World Wetlands Day (WWD) is celebrated internationally each year on February 2 . It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on February 1971 2 . 2011 is also the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention.

Did you know?
u00a02011 is the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar converntion