Important Wetlands, Bird Sanctuaries and Ramsar Sites in India

Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, regulating water cycles, and mitigating climate change. India possesses a vast network of inland, coastal, and human-made wetlands that cover around 4.6% of the country’s geographical area. These ecosystems act as natural sponges, prevent floods, recharge groundwater, and serve as crucial habitats for resident and migratory birds. To protect these vulnerable areas, India became a party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1982 and continuously expands its network of designated sites of international importance.

International Legal Framework and the Ramsar Convention

The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. It provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

• Ramsar Convention Adoption: The treaty came into force in 1975. February 2 is celebrated globally as World Wetlands Day.
• India’s Accession: India signed the convention on February 1, 1982.
• Montreux Record: A register of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to technological developments, pollution, or human interference. Two Indian sites currently remain on the Montreux Record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur). Chilika Lake (Odisha) was placed on the record in 1993 but removed in 2002 after successful ecological restoration.

Statutory Rules and Management Guidelines in India

The Central Government regulates activities within wetland boundaries using specific legal mechanisms to prevent degradation.

Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017

These rules replaced the 2010 regulations to decentralize wetland management and strengthen local governance.

• State Wetland Authorities (SWAs): Mandates the setup of an SWA in each State and Union Territory, headed by the Environment Minister of that respective state, to identify, notify, and manage wetlands.
• National Wetland Committee (NWC): Functions at the central level to advise the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and monitor the implementation of rules.
• Prohibited Activities: Banned activities inside notified wetlands include industrial expansion, dumping of untreated waste, discharge of effluents, solid waste dumping, and conversion for non-wetland uses.
• Wise Use Principle: Permits sustainable activities that do not alter the natural ecological character of the water body.

Major Ramsar Sites and Bird Sanctuaries Across India

India hosts numerous ecologically rich wetlands spanning high-altitude lakes, mangrove forests, riverine deltas, and freshwater bodies.

Ecological Regions and Flyways

India serves as a key geographical node along migratory pathways for wintering waterfowl.

Central Asian Flyway (CAF)

India forms the central destination for the Central Asian Flyway, which covers a vast continental area between the Arctic and Indian Oceans. Millions of migratory birds travel thousands of kilometers along this path every winter to shelter in Indian wetlands. Key species utilizing this route include the Bar-headed Goose, Demoiselle Crane, Amur Falcon, and Eurasian Wigeon.

Mangrove and Coastal Wetland Belts

Coastal wetlands protect shoreline stability and sequester vast amounts of carbon, often referred to as blue carbon. Sundarbans (West Bengal), Bhitarkanika (Odisha), Pichavaram (Tamil Nadu), and Coringa (Andhra Pradesh) host rich mangrove ecosystems that protect inland regions from tropical cyclones and storm surges.

Important Facts and Quick Reference

• First Ramsar Sites: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were designated as India’s first Ramsar sites in October 1981.
• State with Maximum Ramsar Sites: Tamil Nadu holds the highest number of designated Ramsar sites in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh.
• Largest Ramsar Site: Sundarban Wetland in West Bengal covers over 4,200 square kilometers, making it the largest Ramsar site in the country.
• Smallest Ramsar Site: Renuka Lake in Himachal Pradesh is the smallest Ramsar site in India, spanning an area of roughly 0.2 square kilometers.
• Only Floating National Park: Keibul Lamjao National Park, located on Loktak Lake in Manipur, is the world’s only floating national park.
• Koolankulam Bird Sanctuary: Situated in Tamil Nadu, this site acts as a major breeding center for migratory waterbirds and receives community protection from local villagers.
• Bhitarkanika Mangroves: Located in Odisha, this wetland contains the highest density of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in India and borders the Gahirmatha turtle sanctuary.
• Deepor Beel: A permanent freshwater lake near Guwahati in Assam, serving as a key staging site for Asian Elephants and waterbirds along the Brahmaputra valley.
• Sultanpur National Park: Located in Gurugram, Haryana, this freshwater wetland acts as a critical wintering ground for trans-Himalayan migratory birds.