Description

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Context:

Ahead of World Wetlands Day, four more wetlands have been designated Ramsar Convention sites, bringing the total number of globally recognized wetlands in the country to 89.

About New Ramsar Sites

Sanctuary/Wetland	Location	Established	Flora	Fauna	Significance
Therthangal Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu	Dec 15, 2010	Aponogeton rainfall, Hydicillata, Tamarindus Indica	Various bird species	Popular among bird watchers during migration (Oct-Mar)
Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu	Apr 17, 2012	Neem, Palmyra Palm, Gloriosa Superb	Macaque, giant squirrels, migratory birds	Protects avifauna and wetland ecosystems
Khecheopalri Wetland	Sikkim	-	-	Home swifts, fishing eagles, dragon Brahmina	Sacred for Buddhists and Hindus, part of Buddhist pilgrimage circuit
Udhwa Lake	Jharkhand	1991	-	Various migratory birds. Comprises two large water bodies: Pataura Jheel and Brahma Jamalpur Jheel.	Located near the Ganga River, it enhances biodiversity and ecological significance

About Ramsar Sites and Their Conservation

Ramsar sites are wetlands that are referred to as international meaning. They are listed on the Ramsar list, the largest network of protected areas in the world. The Ramsar Convention, also known as the Convention on the Wetlands of International Importance, is an intergovernmental agreement to promote the protection and wise use of wetlands.

It is the only global contract that focuses on a single ecosystem. The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar. 2nd February 1971 and entered into force in 1975. The conference entered into force in India in 1982.

On February 2, it is celebrated every year as World Wetlands. Its secretariat is located in Gland, Switzerland.

Ramsar Sites in India

Category	Ramsar Site	Location
First Ramsar Sites (1981)	Chilika Lake & Keoladeo National Park	Odisha & Rajasthan
Largest Ramsar Site	Sundarbans	West Bengal
Smallest Ramsar Site	Renuka Wetland	Himachal Pradesh

Legal Protection

These wetlands are protected under various national laws, including:

Indian Forest Act (1927)
Forest (Conservation) Act (1980)
Environmental Protection Act (1986)
Wildlife Protection Act (1972)

Recent Developments in Wetland Conservation in India

Initiative/Program	Year of Initiation	Objective/Description
Conservation and Management	2017	Increased focus on wetland management from the Central Office to state authorities.
Indian Wetlands Portal	2021	Developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), providing comprehensive information on Indian wetlands.
Center for Protection and Management of Wetlands (CWCM)	2021	Established on World Wetlands Day to enhance wetland conservation efforts.
Program of Rejuvenation of Wetlands	2020	MOEFCC initiative aimed at rejuvenating over 500 wetlands across India.
Animal National Action Plan - Strong Animals (2017–2031)	2017	Focuses on the preservation of inland ecosystems, including wetlands.
AMRIT DHAROHAR	2023-24 (Union Budget)	Aims to optimize the use of wetlands over three years.
Mission Sahbhagita	Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (2022)	Encourages community-led participation in wetland protection and sustainable use.

Source:

THE TIMES OF INDIA

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss the key developments in wetland conservation in India in recent years. Highlight the role of policy frameworks, international conventions, and local initiatives in safeguarding wetlands. (150 words)