Plastic pollution poses grave threat to wetlands biodiversity

Wetlands are of exceptional importance in the context of biodiversity. These wetlands are being polluted by plastic waste on a daily basis, with tonnes of plastic accumulating every year. This poses a serious problem to biodiversity. The filling of canals, the discharge of untreated sewage, and encroachment are the reasons for the destruction of wetlands. Plastic pollution is a grave threat to the wetlands, according to a research paper by Wetlands International South Asia.

Millions of tonnes of plastic waste accumulate in wetlands every year, and India has three times the amount of forested wetlands. Wetlands are home to 40% of the world's species, These ecosystems are home to a variety of flora and fauna. Protecting these wetlands helps maintain the balance in the environment. Plants in these regions absorb pollutants and purify the water in these regions. Mangrove forests have an essential role in nature; rice fields are known as the largest wetlands, and wetlands along the coast help prevent erosion.

Wetlands are rapidly disappearing, which poses a major threat to biodiversity in those areas. According to experts, plastic waste affects lives and adversely impacts the natural water system. Blocking the flow of water in these regions increases the incidence of floods.

Environmental activists state that large amounts of plastic waste are being collected from the NRI lake in Navi Mumbai, Thane bay area, the drains of Malad, and Goregaon. The TS Chanakya is bustling with flamingos, but the situation remains the same. In 2023, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation collected more than 2,000-tonnes of plastic waste from the beaches alone.