Biswabrata Goswami
MIDNAPORE, 13 FEB: As wetlands across India shrink under the twin pressures of climate change and unplanned development, scholars, scientists and traditional resource users gathered at Raja Narendralal Khan Women’s College (Autonomous) on Tuesday to reaffirm the ecological and cultural value of these fragile ecosystems. A national seminar on “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage”, organised as part of the World Wetlands Day Observation 2026, sought to bridge scientific understanding with lived community experience in safeguarding wetlands for the future.
Jointly hosted by the postgraduate departments of Zoology and Geography, the seminar highlighted the multifaceted role of wetlands—as biodiversity hotspots, hydrological regulators, climate buffers and sources of rural livelihoods—while underscoring the importance of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices that have sustained these landscapes for generations.
Speakers emphasised that wetlands function as natural shields against floods and droughts, store and purify water, support fisheries and agriculture, and serve as repositories of both biological and cultural diversity. In the context of accelerating environmental stress, participants noted that ignoring indigenous knowledge systems could further weaken conservation efforts.
The academic forum drew wide participation, with over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students, 63 research scholars and around 50 faculty members in attendance. In a notable outreach initiative, 10 local fishers from Kankabati Gram Panchayat in Midnapore Sadar Block participated in the seminar, sharing first-hand accounts of wetland-dependent livelihoods, traditional fishing practices and resource management, thus adding a grounded community perspective to academic deliberations.
A student poster exhibition formed a key component of the programme, with 50 posters depicting wetland conditions from global to local scales. The displays addressed challenges such as climate change impacts, environmental degradation, livelihood dependence and shrinking wetland areas, while integrating scientific insights with traditional knowledge and cultural practices. The exhibition facilitated dialogue among students, researchers and community members.
Several eminent academicians and scientists addressed the seminar. Dr S K Rout, former Professor of Zoology at the University of Calcutta, spoke on wetlands as ecotones and their critical ecological functions. Dr Renji Remesan, Associate Professor at the School of Water Resources, IIT Kharagpur, highlighted the hydrological role of wetlands, particularly their importance in groundwater recharge and agricultural sustainability. Prof Debdulal Banerjee of Vidyasagar University discussed wetlands as cultural landscapes shaped by living traditions and indigenous ecological knowledge.
Providing a broader national perspective, Dr Partha Pratim Chakravorty, former Associate Professor of Zoology at Raja Narendralal Khan Women’s College, traced the past, present status and emerging challenges of wetlands in India. The concluding technical session was delivered by Prof Dr Md Sarfaraz Asgher of the University of Jammu, who focused on wetlands as blue carbon ecosystems and their potential contribution to climate change mitigation.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Swapna Ghorai, Principal of the college, underlined the close association of rural women with wetland ecosystems as primary users and custodians. She noted that women play a crucial role in reducing pollution, conserving water bodies and sustaining wetlands through cultural rituals and community-based practices.
The seminar was inaugurated by Prof Paresh Chandra Jana, Dean, Postgraduate Faculty of Science, Vidyasagar University. The programme was funded by the State Wetland Authority, Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal, whose support enabled its successful organisation.
The organising secretaries, Dr Angsuman Chanda and Dr Pravat Kumar Shit, said the seminar aimed to strengthen dialogue between academia and local communities and to promote informed, inclusive conservation strategies. They observed that wetland conservation remains a national priority in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss and mounting pressure from land conversion and development.
