India’s Resolution Adopted At Ramsar CoP15 in Zimbabwe

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Ramsar Convention

The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 to conserve and wisely use wetlands, with the goal of halting worldwide wetland loss. Its focus on wetlands of international importance, the “wise use” principle for their sustainable management, and the designation of “Ramsar Sites” based on criteria such as supporting large waterbird populations. India ratified the convention in 1982 and has a growing number of Ramsar Sites, which are vital ecosystems supporting biodiversity, flood control, and climate regulation.

Key Points

• Origin: Adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
• Nature of Treaty: It is an intergovernmental treaty focused on the conservation and “wise use” of wetlands.
• Definition of Wetlands: The convention defines wetlands broadly, including swamps, marshes, lakes, rivers, estuaries, mangroves, and even human-made wetlands like rice paddies and reservoirs.
• Wise Use Principle: This is a core concept, emphasizing the maintenance of the ecological health of wetlands through sustainable development and ecosystem-based approaches.
• Ramsar Sites: Countries can designate wetlands meeting specific criteria as Ramsar Sites, creating an international network of importance for global biodiversity conservation.
• Ecological Importance: Ramsar Sites are crucial for biodiversity, water purification, flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.
• India’s Role: India joined the convention in 1982 and has designated numerous wetlands as Ramsar Sites, showcasing its commitment to wetland conservation.
• Governing Body: The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the convention’s highest authority, meeting triennially to set priorities and review progress.
• Current Status: As of mid-2025, India has over 80 Ramsar Sites, with the number of sites continuously increasing.

Quick Facts (Important topic for Prelims)

• Ramsar Convention – International treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands
• Adopted: 1971 in Ramsar, Iran
• Came into force: 1975
• Ramsar Convention is under: UNESCO, but not legally binding.
• The convention broadly defines wetlands, encompassing natural sites like marshes, lakes, rivers, estuaries, mangroves, and coral reefs, as well as human-made areas like fishponds and rice paddies.
• Each member country must designate at least one wetland for the Ramsar List upon joining.
• Wetlands are included if they meet one of nine criteria, such as supporting rare species or a large number of waterbirds.
• The Montreux Record lists Ramsar Sites facing ecological changes due to human activity, highlighting those needing urgent conservation.
• A wetland must meet at least one of 9 criteria. The nine criteria fall into two groups: those focused on unique wetland types and those focused on the biodiversity the wetland supports.
• India became a contracting party to the convention in 1982 and has significantly increased its designated Ramsar Sites over time.
• Currently, Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake are on the Montreux Record; Chilika Lake was removed after successful restoration.
• India also has its own laws, like the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, to protect its wetlands, complementing the convention’s guidelines.

Ramsar Site Selection Criteria

A wetland must meet at least one of 9 criteria, based on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The nine criteria fall into two groups: those focused on unique wetland types and those focused on the biodiversity the wetland supports.

 Group A: Sites of International Importance due to their Ecology

•  Criterion 1: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type.

Group B: Sites of International Importance for Biodiversity

• Criterion 2: Supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.
• Criterion 3: Supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.
• Criterion 4: Supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions (e.g., breeding, moulting, migration).
• 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 significant proportion of indigenous fish species, contributing to global biological diversity.
• Criterion 8: Important for fish spawning, nursery, and/or migration, crucial to sustaining fish populations.
• Criterion 9: Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent non-avian animals (e.g., amphibians, reptiles, mammals).