A REVIEW ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EAST KOLKATA WETLAND: A RAMSAR SITE WITH INTEGRATED RESOURCE RECOVERY ACTIVITIESDebasis MandalAbstract East Kolkata Wetland (EKW) is a significant Biodiversity rich Ramsar Site in West Bengal, India. It has a significant Ecological and socio-economic importance and plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation, eco-restoration, environmental protection and pollution control. It harbours worldâs largest wastewater fed aquaculture system. It acts as a great resource recovery system by utilizing the city sewage and therefore reduces huge expenditure towards running expenses of a waste treatment plants. The Wetland generates employments and provides valuable edibles like vegetables, fish and acts as lifeline of approximately 1, 50,000 peoples. It has diverse group of flora and fauna and harbours different types of microorganisms. It is a great natural resource and needs to be conserved for the welfare of society. The aim of the present review is to highlight the ecological, socio-economic importance and resource recovery activities of the East Kolkata Wetland and need of its conservation. |