About one-fifth of Kerala is wetland, and a single authority under the Department of Environment oversees it

Background

The Kerala Forest Department records that wetlands cover about one-fifth of the State's land area and that Kerala has more than 200 wetland areas. These include marshes, waterlogged areas, polders bordering backwaters, lakes and the Myristica Swamps of the Western Ghats. The State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK), established under the Department of Environment, oversees wetland management. SWAK focuses on policy development, regulatory frameworks, integrated management, capacity building, research and awareness. The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment has developed management plans for key lakes like Vembanad, Sasthamcotta and Ashtamudi. Kerala has a limited number of inland lakes, with Pokkode, Sasthamkotta and Vellayani being notable examples. Sasthamkotta lake, a tributary of the Kallada River, provides drinking water to Kollam town. Large dams like Mullaperiyar and Idukki capture most of the Periyar River's water.