Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance

The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their natural resources. Established in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, the convention provides the global framework for national action and international cooperation. Wetlands designated as Ramsar sites hold exceptional ecological value, supporting global biodiversity, regulating water cycles, and sustaining human livelihoods.

Origin and Institutional Framework

The 1971 Ramsar Convention

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was adopted on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran, and came into force in 1975. World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2 to mark this event. The Ramsar Secretariat operates from the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland.

The Three Operational Pillars

• Wise Use: Contracting parties commit to working toward the wise use of all wetlands in their territory through national plans, policies, and legislation.
• Designation of Sites: Member nations must nominate suitable wetlands for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
• International Cooperation: Member countries collaborate on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems, and shared species.

Criteria for Identification of Ramsar Sites

A wetland is designated as a Ramsar site if it meets at least one of the nine criteria established by the Ramsar Convention.

Group A Criteria: Sites Containing Representative or Rare Wetland Types

• Criterion 1: A wetland containing a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.

Group B Criteria: Sites of International Importance for Conserving Biodiversity

• Criterion 2: Supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.
• Criterion 3: Supports populations of plant or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.
• Criterion 4: Supports plant or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles or provides refuge during adverse conditions.
• Criterion 5: Regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.
• Criterion 6: Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.
• Criterion 7: Supports a major proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species, or families.
• Criterion 8: Serves as an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery, or migration path on which fish stocks depend.
• Criterion 9: Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent non-avian animal species.

Montreux Record and Threat Management

Definition and Purpose

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur. These changes stem from technological developments, pollution, or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

Status of Indian Sites in Montreux Record

• Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan): Inscribed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to water shortage and invasive vegetation growth.
• Loktak Lake (Manipur): Inscribed in 1993 due to ecological problems such as deforestation in the catchment area, infestation of water hyacinth, and siltation caused by the Ithai Barrage.
• Chilika Lake (Odisha): Inscribed in 1993 due to siltation and choking of the mouth of the lake. It was successfully removed from the Montreux Record in 2002 after effective restoration initiatives, winning the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award.

Ramsar Network in India

National Expansion and Status

India became a party to the Ramsar Convention on February 1, 1982. Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan were designated as India’s first two Ramsar sites on October 1, 1981. India hosts the largest network of Ramsar sites in Asia and ranks third globally in total site count, behind the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Geographic Distribution Across States

• Tamil Nadu: Holds the highest number of Ramsar sites in India, with 20 designated wetlands.
• Uttar Pradesh: Ranks second with 13 designated Ramsar sites.
• First Wetland Cities: Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Udaipur (Rajasthan) earned accreditation as India’s first Ramsar Wetland Cities.

Key Domestic Policy and Governance Framework

Regulatory Rules

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change governs wetlands under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. These rules prohibit activities such as industrial setting, dumping of untreated waste, construction of permanent structures, and conversion for non-wetland use within designated wetland areas.

Dedicated Conservation Schemes

• Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme: Promotes eco-tourism, local livelihoods, and carbon sequestration across Ramsar sites in India.
• MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes): Focuses on mangrove restoration along Indian coastlines, covering several coastal Ramsar sites.

Key Ramsar Sites in India and Special Ecological Features

Quick Facts on Ramsar Wetlands

• The Ramsar Convention was signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran.
• World Wetlands Day is celebrated globally on February 2 every year.
• Cobourg Peninsula in Australia was designated as the world’s first Ramsar site in 1974.
• The United Kingdom holds the highest number of Ramsar sites in the world (176), followed by Mexico (144).
• The Pantanal in South America stands as the world’s largest Ramsar site complex spanning Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
• Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were the first Indian wetlands added to the Ramsar list in 1981.
• Sundarban Wetland in West Bengal is the largest Ramsar site in India, covering over 4,200 square kilometers.
• Renuka Wetland in Himachal Pradesh and Vembannur Wetland Complex in Tamil Nadu are among the smallest Ramsar sites in India (~20 hectares each).
• Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake are the two Indian sites currently listed on the Montreux Record.
• Tamil Nadu hosts the maximum number of Ramsar sites (20) among all Indian states.
• Indore and Udaipur became India’s first accredited Ramsar Wetland Cities.