Cover -- Series Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- About the Editor -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- Chapter 1 Wetlands of Eastern Himalaya: Biodiversity, Livelihoods, and Conservation -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Wetlands Categories of the Eastern Himalayas -- 1.2.1 The Valley Bottom Wetlands (Figure 1.1a and b) -- 1.2.2 Highland Bogs, Fens, and Marshes of the Eastern Himalayas (Figures 1.4a,b and 1.5a,b) -- 1.3 Floristic Composition of the Shallow Fresh Marsh, Seasonally Flooded Flat Basins, Poor Fen, and Freshwater Meadows of Eastern Himalaya Wetlands -- 1.4 Spring Wetlands on the Lower Slope Areas of the Hillside in the Eastern Himalaya (Figure 1.3a and b) -- 1.5 Riverine and Floodplain Wetlands Above 2500 M in the Eastern Himalayas (Figure 1.6a and b) -- 1.6 The Livelihood in Wetlands of the Eastern Himalaya and the Conservation Measures -- 1.6.1 Livelihood of the Rivers/Streams Wetlands -- 1.6.2 The Conservation Procedures That May Harm Wetlands and Their Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas -- 1.7 Conservation Measures -- References -- Chapter 2 Wetlands of Nepal: Biodiversity, Livelihoods, and Conservation Initiatives -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.1.1 Nepal's Wetland Diversity -- 2.1.2 Ramsar Convention and Wetlands in Nepal -- 2.2 Wetland Biodiversity -- 2.2.1 Floral Diversity -- 2.2.1.1 High Hill Ramsar Wetlands -- 2.2.1.2 Mid Hill Ramsar Wetlands -- 2.2.1.3 Lowland Ramsar Wetlands -- 2.2.2 Faunal Diversity -- 2.2.2.1 High Hill Ramsar Wetlands -- 2.2.2.2 Mid Hill Ramsar Wetlands -- 2.2.2.3 Lowland Ramsar Wetlands -- 2.3 Wetlands in Nepal -- 2.3.1 Wetlands in Mountains (or High Hills) of Nepal -- 2.3.1.1 Gokyo and Associated Wetlands (Solukhumbu District, Koshi Province, Eastern Nepal -- Figure 2.25a and b) -- 2.3.1.2 Gosainkunda and Associated Wetlands (Rasuwa District, Bagmati Province, Central Nepal.

Figure 2.26a and b) -- 2.3.1.3 Phoksundo Wetland (Dolpa District, Karnali Province, Western Nepal -- Figures 2.27a, band 2.28) -- 2.3.1.4 Rara Wetland (Mugu District, Karnali Province, Western Nepal -- Figure 2.29a and b) -- 2.3.2 Wetlands in the Mid Hills of Nepal -- 2.3.2.1 Mai Pokhari Wetland (Ilam District, Koshi Province, Eastern Nepal -- Figure 2.30a and b) -- 2.3.2.2 Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley (Kaski District, Gandaki Province, Central Nepal -- Figure 2.31a and b) -- 2.3.3 Wetlands in the Low Land (Tarai) of Nepal -- 2.3.3.1 Koshi Tappu Wetland (Sunsari District, Koshi Province, Eastern Nepal -- Figure 2.32a and b) -- 2.3.3.2 Beeshazar Wetland and Associated Lakes (Chitwan District, Bagmati Province, Central Nepal -- Figure 2.33a and b) -- 2.3.3.3 Jagdishpur Lake Wetland (Kapilvastu District, Lumbini Province, Central Nepal -- Figure 2.34a and b) -- 2.3.3.4 Ghodaghodi Lake Complex (Kailali District, Sudur Paschim Province, Western Nepal -- Figure 2.35a and b) -- 2.3.4 Wetlands of National Importance -- 2.4 Livelihood Issues Associated with the Wetlands -- 2.4.1 Wetlands and Livelihood Incentives -- 2.4.1.1 Provisioning Services -- 2.4.1.2 Regulating Services -- 2.4.1.3 Supporting Services -- 2.4.1.4 Cultural Services -- 2.4.2 Wetlands and Tourism Industry -- 2.5 Threats to Wetlands -- 2.5.1 Alien Invasive Species -- 2.5.2 Climate Change -- 2.5.3 Lack of Science-Based Knowledge -- 2.5.4 Infrastructures and Recreational Activities -- 2.5.5 Threats to Cultural Sites -- 2.6 Wetland Conservation Initiatives -- 2.6.1 Wetland Management Practices -- 2.6.2 Wetland Conservation Policies in Nepal -- 2.6.3 Wetland-Related Legislations -- 2.6.4 Wetland-Related Conventions and Commitments -- 2.7 Recommendations and Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- GIS Map Credit -- Photo Credit -- 3.ACommon Flora (Plant Diversity) in and Around Ramsar Wetlands of Nepal.

3.B Common Fauna (Animal Diversity) in and Around Ramsar Wetlands of Nepal -- References -- Chapter 3 Wetlands of Himalayan and Hindu Kush Regions of Pakistan -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Geographical Setting -- 3.3 Biodiversity -- 3.3.1 Mammals -- 3.3.2 Birds -- 3.3.3 Fishes -- 3.3.4 The Herpetofauna -- 3.4 Flora -- 3.5 Threats -- 3.5.1 Excessive Resource Harvesting -- 3.5.2 Illegal Hunting and Retaliatory Killings -- 3.5.3 Decreasing Water Quality -- 3.5.4 Ill-Managed Tourism -- 3.5.5 Potential Climate Change -- 3.6 Conservation Strategies -- 3.7 Gaps in Conservation Efforts -- References -- Chapter 4 Wetlands of Armenia: Biodiversity, Livelihoods, and Conservation -- 4.1 Overview -- 4.2 Biodiversity -- 4.2.1 Wetlands of Ararat Plain -- 4.2.2 Grassy Marshes -- 4.3 Human Factors -- 4.3.1 Water Acquisition -- 4.3.2 Drainage of Wetlands -- 4.3.3 Pollution of Wetlands -- 4.3.4 Reed Harvesting and Arsons -- 4.3.5 Livestock Grazing -- 4.3.6 Waterbird Harvesting -- 4.4 Conservation -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 5 Wetlands of Georgia -- 5.1 Kolkheti Landscapes and Their Condition -- 5.2 Agroclimatic Characteristics of Kolkheti Lowland -- 5.3 Soils of Kolkheti -- 5.4 Wetland Landscape as an Economic Resource Phenomenon -- 5.4.1 Peat Deposits -- 5.4.2 Swamps of Kolkheti -- 5.4.3 Biodiversity of Protected and Recreation Areas of Kolkheti -- 5.4.3.1 Biodiversity of Kolkheti National Park -- 5.4.3.2 Biodiversity of Kobuleti Protected Areas -- 5.4.3.3 Biodiversity of Shekvetili Dendrological Park (Guria, Ozurgeti) -- 5.4.3.4 Protected Areas of Colchic Rainforests -- 5.4.3.5 Kintrishi Protected Areas -- 5.4.3.6 Biodiversity of Protected Areas of Colchic Temperate Rainforests -- 5.4.3.7 Endemic Plant Species Protected Areas of Colchic Rainforests -- 5.5 The Future of Kolkheti Wetlands: Development Prospects -- 5.6 Livelihood of Kolkheti Lowland.

7.2.1 Characteristics of the Peatland Ecosystem in the B& -- H Mountains -- 7.2.2 Basic Ecological and Phytocenological Characteristics of Peatlands in Bosnia and Herzegovina -- 7.3 Overview of Abiotic and Biotic Characteristics of Mountain Peatlands in Bosnia and Herzegovina -- 7.3.1 Abiotic and Biotic Characteristics of the Peatlands in Bijambare -- 7.3.2 Abiotic and Biotic Characteristics of the Peatlands on Mt. Zvijezda -- 7.3.3 Abiotic and Biotic Characteristics of the Peatlands on Mt. Vranica -- 7.4 Spectrum of Indicator Values of Peatland Ecosystems in Bosnia and Herzegovina -- 7.5 Overview of Algae Diversity in Peatlands of Bosnia and Herzegovina -- 7.6 Pressures on the Peatland Ecosystems of Bosnia and Herzegovina -- 7.7 Principles of Ecological Restoration and Conservation of Peatland Ecosystems -- References -- Chapter 8 Wetlands of Mountainous Regions of Mexico -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Location of Mexico -- 8.3 Importance of Wetlands -- 8.4 Common Issues Affecting Wetlands Located in Mexican Mountains -- 8.5 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 9 Mountain Bogs of Costa Rica: Ecological Dynamics, Biogeography, Diversity, and Conservation -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Distribution of Mountain Bogs and Characterization of Their Plant Diversity -- 9.3 Biogeography of the Talamanca Mountain Range -- 9.4 Plant Biogeography -- 9.5 Structure of Plant Communities -- 9.6 Birds -- 9.7 Amphibians and Reptiles -- 9.7.1 Salamanders -- 9.7.2 Anurans -- 9.7.3 Reptiles -- 9.7.4 Mammals -- 9.7.5 Small Terrestrial Insectivores -- 9.7.6 Small- and Medium-Sized Herbivores -- 9.7.7 Bats -- 9.7.8 Large Herbivores -- 9.8 Predators -- 9.8.1 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates -- 9.8.2 Flying Insects -- 9.9 Limnological Properties of Mountain Bogs -- 9.10 Biogeographic Importance of Mountain Bogs as Record Keepers of Past Glaciations.