Wetlands are not wastelands

By :Amol Lopez 0 comments

Illustrated - Evan Lopes

Story - Amol

Once, in the beautiful town of Virar-Vasai, there was a magical place called Shriprasta Wetland. It was full of sparkling water, buzzing insects, and lush green Typha reeds. The wetland was home to many creatures, but the happiest of them were the birds.

Every winter, migratory birds like Spotted Crake, Baillon's crake, and Paddyfield Warbler flew thousands of miles to Shriprasta to rest and eat . One bird, Ruddy-breasted Crake, didn’t have to fly anywhere. He was a resident bird, living in Shriprasta all year round.

“This wetland is perfect!” Ruddy-breasted Crake would chirp proudly. “The Typha reeds clean the water, stop the soil from washing away, and give us shelter. There’s no place like it.”

But as the years went by, things began to change.

One winter, Spotted Crake and the others arrived to find Shriprasta in ruins.

“Where are the reeds?” cried Spotted Crake. “Where’s the clear water?”

Baillon's crake landed and shook her head. “Humans have built houses and roads here! They’ve thrown garbage in the water. How can we live here now?”

Paddyfield Warbler perched on a blade of typha reed, his feathers drooping. “I flew so far, hoping to find safety. But now, habitat is gone.”

Ruddy-breasted Crake, who had watched it all happen, chirped sadly. “Humans think wetlands are useless wastelands. They drain them, build over them, or throw garbage in them, not knowing how important they are to us—and to them! Wetlands clean their water, prevent floods, and keep the Earth healthy.”

“What can we do?” asked Spotted Crake. “If our habitat is destroyed, we’ll lose our home forever.”

Nearby, a group of children often played in the fields . They loved nature and knew how special wetland was. They had seen fewer birds and dirtier water, and they wanted to help.

One day, the children gathered near the wetland. “Shriprasta is dying,” said a boy named Aarav. “We must do something to save it.”

A girl named Meera nodded. “Wetlands aren’t wastelands. They are homes for birds, frogs, fish, and even plants like Typha reeds that clean the water. We have to tell everyone how important this place is.”

The children decided to take action. They wrote letters to the local officials, explaining why Shriprasta needed to be restored.

They signed the letter and delivered it to the town’s leaders. The officials were surprised to see how much the children cared. They visited wetland and realized how much damage had been done. With the children’s help, they planned a restoration project. Slowly after restoration, the water became clearer, and the wetland began to heal.

When the migratory birds returned the following winter, they were overjoyed.

“The reeds are back!” chirped Spotted Crake.

“There’s clean water again!” exclaimed Baillon's Crake.

“We can call this place home once more,” said Paddyfield Warbler.

Ruddy-breasted Crake chirped proudly, “All thanks to the children who understood the importance of wetlands and worked to save wetland!”

From that day on, Shriprasta Wetland became a symbol of hope. The children promised to protect it forever, and they taught others about the importance of wetlands.