Note: Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Preface -- List of Contributors -- Chapter 1 Global Wetlands: Categorization, Distribution and Global Scenario -- 1.1 Wetlands Definition, Categorization and Classification Criteria -- 1.1.1 Wetlands- Categorization and Classification -- 1.1.2 Human- Made Wetlands -- 1.2 Importance of Wetland Ecosystem -- 1.3 Spatial Distribution and Potential of Global Wetlands -- 1.4 Status and Impacts on the Wetlands Ecosystem -- 1.4.1 Conservation Measures and Future Strategies -- 1.4.2 Conclusion and Recommendation -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 2 Ramsar Convention: History, Structure, Operations, and Relevance -- 2.1 Background -- 2.2 The Ramsar Convention -- 2.3 The Convention Text -- 2.4 Wetland Definition and Classification -- 2.5 Mission of the Convention -- 2.6 Structural Framework of the Convention -- 2.7 Operational Framework of the Convention -- 2.7.1 Convention Membership -- 2.7.2 Ramsar Regions -- 2.7.3 National Ramsar Committees -- 2.7.4 The Montreux Record -- 2.7.5 Ramsar Strategic Plan -- 2.7.6 Three Pillars of Ramsar Convention -- 2.7.7 The Convention Budget -- 2.8 External Partnerships and Synergies -- 2.9 Education and Outreach -- 2.9.1 Communication, Education, Participation, and Awareness (CEPA) -- 2.9.2 World Wetlands Day -- 2.10 Legal Status -- 2.11 Effectiveness of the Convention -- References -- Chapter 3 Ecological Importance of Wetland Systems -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Importance of Wetlands in Flood Control -- 3.3 Role of Wetlands in Groundwater Replenishment -- 3.4 Role of Wetlands in Stabilization and Storm Protection of Shorelines -- 3.5 Role of Wetlands in Sediment and Nutrient Retention -- 3.6 Role of Wetlands in Water Purification -- 3.7 Biodiversity of Wetlands -- 3.8 Wetland Products -- 3.9 Sociocultural Values of Wetlands. , 3.10 Wetlands in Relation to Recreation and Tourism -- 3.11 Wetland and Climate Change -- 3.12 Summary -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 4 Ecological and Societal Importance of Wetlands: A Case Study of North Bihar (India) -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Geographical and District-Wise Distribution of Wetlands in North Bihar -- 4.2.1 Kabartal -- 4.2.2 Baraila Jheel -- 4.2.3 Kusheshwar Asthan -- 4.2.4 Jagatpur Wetland -- 4.2.5 Moti Jheel -- 4.2.6 Gogabeel Pakshi Vihar -- 4.3 Wetlands: Promoters of Sustainable Livelihood and Services -- 4.4 North Bihar Wetland Biodiversity: Status and Role -- 4.5 Urbanization, Pollution, and Climate Change Impacts -- 4.6 Legal Framework, Policies, and Challenges -- 4.7 Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 5 Recognizing Economic Values of Wetland Ecosystem Services: A Study of Emerging Role of Monetary Evaluation of Chandubi Ecosystem and Biodiversity -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Methodology of Ecosystem Valuation -- 5.2.1 Market Prices - Revealed Willingness to Pay -- 5.2.2 Circumstantial Evidence - Imputed Willingness to Pay -- 5.2.2.1 Damage Cost Avoided, Replacement Cost, and Substitute Cost Methods -- 5.2.3 Surveys - Expressed Willingness to Pay -- 5.2.3.1 Contingent Valuation Method -- 5.2.3.2 Contingent Choice Method -- 5.3 Ecosystem Services of Wetland -- 5.4 Chandubi Wetland: Introduction, Impact, and Introspection -- 5.5 Scaling up Wetland Conservation, Wise Use, and Restoration for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals -- 5.6 Wetlands' Role in Achieving SDGs -- 5.7 Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 6 Ecosystem Services of Lagoon Wetlands System in India -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Chilika Lagoon -- 6.3 Ecosystem Services Provided by Chilika Lagoon -- 6.3.1 Provisioning Services -- 6.3.2 Regulating Services -- 6.3.3 Cultural Services -- 6.3.4 Supporting Services. , 6.4 Threats and Management of Chilika Lagoon -- 6.5 Pulicat Lagoon -- 6.6 Ecosystem Services Provided by Pulicat Lagoon -- 6.6.1 Provisioning Services -- 6.6.2 Aquatic Flora and Fauna of Pulicat -- 6.6.3 Regulatory Services Provided by Pulicat Lagoon -- 6.6.4 Historical and Cultural Importance of Pulicat Lagoon -- 6.6.5 Supporting Services Provided by Pulicat Lagoon -- 6.6.6 Threats and Management of Pulicat Lagoon -- 6.7 Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 7 Sustainable Practices for Conservation of Wetland Ecosystem -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Role of Wetlands in the Ecosystem -- 7.3 Challenges to Conserve Wetlands -- 7.4 Wetland Management and Sustainable Development -- 7.5 Future Strategies for Wetland Conservation -- 7.6 Development of the Legal Framework -- 7.7 Technology Intervention with Baseline Data for Wetland Conservation -- 7.8 Development of National Action Plans -- 7.9 Promotion of Research for Conservation Setup -- 7.10 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 8 Assessing the Benefits, Threats and Conservation of Reservoir-Based Wetlands in the Eastern Himalayan River Basin -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.1.1 RBWs' Significance and Ignorance -- 8.1.2 RBWs in India -- 8.1.3 The RBWs in the Eastern Himalayas -- 8.2 The RBWs in the Tista Basin -- 8.3 Benefits of Reservoirs as Wetland -- 8.3.1 Ecosystem Services Provided by the RBWs -- 8.4 Assessment of Ecosystem Services in the Tista Basin Provided by the RBWs -- 8.5 Adverse Impact of RBWs -- 8.5.1 Construction and Function of RBWs Across the World -- 8.5.2 Adverse Impact of RBWs in the Eastern Himalayas -- 8.6 Assessment of Impact on the Tista Basin -- 8.7 Potential Challenges and Threats to RBW -- 8.7.1 Anthropogenic Activities -- 8.7.2 Variations in Water Level -- 8.8 Climate Change -- 8.9 Management and Conservation of RBWs -- 8.10 Conclusion -- References. , Chapter 9 Spatiotemporal Evaluation of Causes and Consequences of Wetland Degradation -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Classification of Wetlands -- 9.3 Causes of and Consequence of Wetland Degradation -- 9.3.1 Natural Causes -- 9.3.1.2 Disintegration of Barrier Islands -- 9.3.1.3 Flooding and Salinization -- 9.3.1.4 Herbivory -- 9.3.1.5 Climate Change -- 9.3.1.6 Major Shifts in a River's Course -- 9.3.2 Anthropogenic Causes of Wetland Loss -- 9.3.2.1 Infrastructure Development -- 9.3.2.2 Land Conversion -- 9.3.2.3 Water Withdrawal -- 9.3.2.4 Eutrophication and Pollution -- 9.3.2.5 Overharvesting and Overexploitation -- 9.3.2.6 Introduction of Invasive Species -- 9.3.2.7 Others -- 9.4 Consequences of Wetland Loss -- 9.4.1 Loss of Biodiversity -- 9.4.2 Decrease in Water Level -- 9.4.3 Loss of Habitat -- 9.4.4 Climate Change -- 9.4.5 Emission of Greenhouse Gases -- 9.4.6 Erosion of River Delta -- References -- Chapter 10 The Status of Current Knowledge, Distribution, and Conservation Challenges of Wetland Ecosystems in Kashmir Himalaya, India -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Wetlands Over North-Western Kashmir Himalaya -- 10.2.1 Current Status -- 10.2.2 Wetland Classification -- 10.2.3 Wetland Distribution and Extent in Kashmir Himalaya -- 10.3 Wetland Functions and Values -- 10.3.1 Regulatory functions -- 10.3.2 Provisioning Functions -- 10.3.3 Cultural Functions -- 10.3.4 Supporting Functions -- 10.3.5 Economic Values -- 10.4 Drivers of Wetland Degradation -- 10.4.1 Land System Changes -- 10.4.2 Pollution -- 10.4.3 Floating Agriculture -- 10.4.4 Siltation -- 10.4.5 Roads and Railways -- 10.4.6 Plantations -- 10.4.7 Overexploitation -- 10.4.8 Weed Infestation -- 10.4.9 Hunting and Poaching -- 10.4.10 Land Reclamation -- 10.5 Wetland Conservation in Kashmir Himalaya -- 10.5.1 Legal Framework -- 10.5.2 Conservation Challenges -- 10.5.3 Conservation Strategies. , 10.5.4 Knowledge Gaps -- 10.6 Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 11 Heavy Metal Pollution in Coastal Environment and Its Remediation Using Mangroves: An Eco-sustainable Approach -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Pollution in Mangrove Habitats: A Global Concern -- 11.3 Heavy Metal Cycling in the Mangrove Ecosystem -- 11.4 Heavy Metal Transport, Uptake, and Release -- 11.5 Bioavailability and Concentration of Heavy Metals in the Sediments -- 11.6 Factors Affecting Heavy Metals in the Sediment -- 11.7 Heavy Metal Accumulation in Mangrove Plants -- 11.8 Heavy Metal Remediation Potential of Mangroves -- 11.9 Distribution of Heavy Metals in Different Plant Tissues of Mangrove Species -- 11.10 Application of Phytoremediation to Coastal Pollution Remediation -- 11.10.1 Phytoremediation Using Constructed Wetlands (CWs) Technology -- 11.10.2 Phytoremediation Using Constructed Floating Bed -- 11.11 Eco-remediation Technologies as Sustainable Natural Treatment Systems for Waste Water Treatment -- 11.12 Conclusion and Future Prospects -- References -- Chapter 12 Mangrove Forests: Distribution, Species Diversity, Roles, Threats and Conservation Strategies -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Mangrove Species Diversity -- 12.3 Geographical Distribution of Mangroves Across the Globe and India -- 12.4 Important Roles of Mangroves -- 12.4.1 Mangrove Forests are the Richest and Most Biodiverse Ecosystems on Earth -- 12.4.2 Aquaculture: Shrimp and Fish Cultivation -- 12.4.3 Protection from Natural Disasters: Mangroves Act as Natural Bioshields Against Natural Disasters -- 12.4.4 Medicinal Value of Mangroves -- 12.5 Threats to Mangroves -- 12.5.1 Human Settlements and Other Developmental Activities -- 12.5.2 Excessive Extraction of Wood -- 12.5.3 Conversion of Mangrove Forests for Farming and Related Activities. , 12.5.4 Conversion of Mangrove Forests for Aquaculture.