Description

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Context

On 2 February 2025, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised the World Wetlands Day 2025 celebrations at Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary, a Ramsar Site in Gonda, U.P.

This year’s theme, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” emphasizes the need for global conservation efforts.

India marked the occasion by announcing 4 new Ramsar sites, which are:

Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand (1st Ramsar Sites of Jharkhand)
Theerthangal and Sakkarakottai in Tamil Nadu
Khecheopalri in Sikkim (1st Ramsar Sites of Sikkim)

What Are Wetlands?

Wetlands are areas with standing or flowing water (Marshes, lakes, bogs, and swamps), either permanent or seasonal.

Ecological Importance

- Biodiversity reservoirs (support birds, fish, and plant life)

- Water conservation (recharge groundwater, control floods)

- Climate change mitigation (carbon sinks)

- Support fisheries and local economies

Ramsar Convention

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands globally. This day is now celebrated annually as World Wetlands Day.

Wetlands in India

India has been a signatory to the Ramsar Convention since 1982.
India is home to 89 Ramsar sites, with Tamil Nadu hosting the most (20 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
The 2023-24 bird census by the Punjab government revealed a significant decline in migratory birds across the province’s wetlands.
Kanjli Wetland had the largest decline:

1,190 birds in 2021-22 → 600 in 2023-24 (-49.49%).

Punjab has 6 major wetlands, including:

Wetland	Location	Key Features
Harike Wetlands	Punjab (86 sq km)	North India’s largest Ramsar site, supports Siberian crane, bar-headed geese.
Kanjli Wetlands	Kapurthala district	Supports migratory birds, fish species, and turtles.
Ropar Wetlands	Sutlej River banks	Provides habitat for various bird species and aquatic life.
Nangal Wetlands	Bhakra-Nangal reservoir	Hosts over 40,000 migratory birds annually.
Beas Conservation Reserve	Beas River	Home to Indus River Dolphins, turtles, and migratory birds.
Ranjit Sagar Wetlands	Ravi River (Ranjit Sagar Dam)	Includes otters and migratory birds.

Threats to Wetlands and Suggested Conservation Measures

Threat	Conservation Measures
Industrial Pollution: Factories near Harike, Ropar, and Kanjli discharge waste, contaminating water.	Regulate Waste Disposal : Enforce stricter regulations on industrial waste.
Illegal Sand Mining	Regulate Mining : Prevent illegal mining and Protect riverbed ecosystems.
Agricultural Runoff : Pesticides and fertilizers harm wetland ecosystems	Minimize runoff and protect water quality.
Climate Change : Rising temperatures affect water levels and biodiversity in wetlands.	Public Awareness Campaigns : Educate local communities about climate impact and wetlands conservation.

Amrit Dharohar initiative

The Amrit Dharohar initiative aims to promote the unique conservation values of Ramsar Sites in India.
This initiative was launched in June 2023 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as part of the 2023-24 budget announcement.
It is designed to be implemented over 3 years in collaboration with various Central Government ministries and agencies, State Wetland Authorities, and a network of formal and informal institutions and individuals.
The initiative focuses on 4 key components: species and habitat conservation, nature tourism, wetlands livelihood, and wetlands carbon.
The goal is to promote sustainable management of wetlands while benefiting local communities and the environment.

Source: INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.With reference to Ramsar sites and wetlands in India, consider the following statements:

India has been a signatory to the Ramsar Convention since 1982 and is home to 89 Ramsar sites.
The newly declared Ramsar sites in 2025 include Udhwa Lake, Khecheopalri, Theerthangal, and Sakkarakottai.
The Amrit Dharohar initiative was launched to focus solely on restoring degraded wetlands and does not include promoting nature tourism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: India has been a signatory to the Ramsar Convention since 1982 and currently has 89 Ramsar sites.
Statement 2 is correct: The 4 newly declared Ramsar sites in India on World Wetland Day 2025 are Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand), Theerthangal and Sakkarakottai (Tamil Nadu), and Khecheopalri (Sikkim).
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Amrit Dharohar initiative focuses on species and habitat conservation, nature tourism, wetlands livelihood, and carbon management, in addition to wetland restoration. It aims to promote sustainable management while benefiting local communities and the environment.