Himalayan Wetlands Under Threat to Climate Change

Wetlands are very unique ecosystem with high productivity and several ecosystem services. The high altitude wetlands play very unique and important role in the glaciated river basins. They serve as storage during rainy period and release water during throughout the dry season. The wetlands in the high altitudes are under stress due to changes in basic natural feeding systems which are glaciers and precipitation. The increase in temperature in recent decades has exaggerated the problem. The present paper reviews the importance and status of high altitude wetlands and assesses the issues to be addressed.