Conservation of Urban Wetland with Potential International Significance: A Case Study on Najafgarh Jheel, Delhi, India

Abstract

Urban lakes, or jheels, are essential ecological elements that help maintain ecosystem services such as groundwater, regional climate, and biodiversity. The continuous urban sprawl and population growth in urban areas are essential factors in the decline of freshwater bodies. However, these ecosystems have functional advantages. The National Capital Region of India has a population of 46 million and is situated on the Yamuna watershed. The resilience plan for the city requires research on hydrological sustainability. The present study focuses on the case study of Najafgarh Jheel, a trans-boundary lake that has recently received the status of a water body under the wetland rules of 2017 of India by the National Green Tribunal after 215 years of existence and deterioration. The primary data collection was through field visits of avifauana data, and secondary data from eBird data, research articles, government reports, and newspaper articles have been the main tools for analysis. The baselines of international significance for Najafgrah Jheel were compared to criteria laid out by the Important Bird and Biodiversity Area Programme and the Ramsar Convention. The Najafgarh Jheel area could be a prospective wetland of international significance for its ornithological significance. The Jheel is facing several anthropogenic stressors with an urgent need for protection and demarcation under the protected area network.