Ten New Indian Sites Added to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Wetlands are lands area where for most of the year the water level remains above or near the ground surface. The relationship between humans and wetlands is very ancient as the first signs of civilization originating in wetland habitats such as the Indus flood plains, the Nile Delta and the Fertile Crescent of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Wetlands are very significant for humans, for ecosystems and for our climate and form a vital part of nature. They are more often called as the “Kidneys of the Earth” providing many essential ecosystem services such as water regulation, flood control and water purification. Wetlands also play an important role in mitigating global heating and pollution by absorbing carbon dioxide. Wetlands cover only around 6% area of earth’s land surface and home for 40% of all plant and animal species. Now, there is a need to worry as they are vanishing at a faster rate than forests just because of human activities and global warming. Thus, to conserve this vital part of nature Ramsar Convention came into effect.

Ramsar Convention

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It was adopted on 2^nd February 1971 in the Ramsar city of Iran (thus is known as “Ramsar Convention”), entering into force in 1975. It is officially as ‘the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat’ or “Convention on Wetlands.” This Convention provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.

Defintion of wetland as adopted by Ramsar Convention

“Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.”

As of March 2015, there are 169 signatories of the treaty around the world. At the time of joining the convention, it is mandatory for each contracting party to include at least one site in the list that meets the criteria established by Conference of Parties.  Ramsar Convention works closely with six other organisations known as International Organisation Partners (IOPs), which are Birdlife International, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Wetlands International, WWF International, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).

It mainly has two objectives, first is the conservation and wise utilization of wetlands and second is to stop the encroachment and loss of wetlands.

Ramsar Sites

Today, Ramsar list is the world’s largest network of protected areas with over 2300 sites across the world, covering 2.5 million square km area.

Montreux Record

It 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 as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

Two Indian wetlands are listed in Montreux record. They are

1.    Keoladeo National Park, in Rajasthan was declared a Ramsar site in 1981 and found a place in the Montreux Record in 1990.

2.    Loktak Lake in Manipur, was designated a Ramsar site in 1990, and listed in the Montreux Record in 1993

World Wetland Day

World wetland day is celebrated annually on 2^nd February, marking the date of adoption of the convention on February 2, 1971. “Wetlands and Water” is the theme for 2021 World Wetland Day.

Ramsar sites in India

In 1981, India became the contracting party of the Ramsar convention and declared Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) as its first two Ramsar Sites. India had 27 Ramsar sites but recently 10 more new sites are added in the list. With this, India has a total of 37 wetland sites protected by Ramsar Convention.

The 10 new sites are:

Nandur Madhameshwar, a first for Maharashtra; Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve and Nangal in Punjab; and Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi and Sarsai Nawar in Uttar Pradesh. The other Ramsar sites are in Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.

 

 

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