Ramsar Sites in India: Convention, Criteria, Facts & Sites

Ramsar Sites are the wetlands that has been listed under the Ramsar Convention. Wetlands are an important part of our biodiversity as they perform several essential functions. Each site consists of rare natural beauty within the appropriate geographic region. Ramsar sites have the potential to benefit from the sustainable use of natural resources.

• The convention treaty was signed on February 2, 1971.
• Ramsar Convention Treaty is also known as The Convention on Wetlands.
• Some of the different types of wetlands include bogs, fens, peatlands, saltmarshes, peatlands, mangroves, coral reefs.

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What are Ramsar Sites? 

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The wetlands of the international importance are called ramsar sites. There are around 2494 Ramsar Sites in the World. As per the Ramsar Convention, all the member countries together develops the framework to conserve ramsar sites. 2^nd  February is celebrated as World Wetlands Day. There are some important criteria that are considered for listing wetlands as ramsar sites. 

• Criterion 1: The wetlands added in the list of ramsar sites should represent the rare beauty of the particular biospheric region. 
• Criterion 2: The site should be ecologically important and supportive for rare, vulnerable, and endangered biodiversty.

According to the recent report released in 2024, the number of Ramsar sites in India has increased from 75 to 85. The newly added ramsar sites are: 

• Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (Karnatka)
• Aghanashini Estuary (Karnatka)
• Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve (Karnatka)
• Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
• Longwood Shola Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu)
• Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
• Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
• Tawa Reservoir (Madhya Pradesh)

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Ramsar Convention Sites in India

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The Ramsar Convention is a convention on wetlands, which was signed in the city of Ramsar in Iran in the year 1971. It is also known as the convention on wetlands. The negotiations started in the 1960s by various countries, and it was finally enforced in 1975. Recently, India has added ten more wetlands to the list of sites protected by the Ramsar Convention.

• As per the convention, Chilika lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo national park (Rajasthan) are considered as the first two ramsar sites of India. 
• The treaty was signed for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
• In India, there are a total of 42 sites that are listed under the Ramsar Convention for the conservation of wetlands. 
• These sites are located in the states of Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
• The convention is supported by six other international organizations, namely:
  • IUCN
  • WWF
  • Wetlands International
  • Birdlife International
  • Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
  • International Water Management Institute

Evolution of the Ramsar Convention

Ramsar Convention came into force in 1975 with the aim to conserve and promote sustainable use of wetlands with the help of local, national actions as well as international cooperation. It aims to promote and achieve sustainable development in the world. The idea for a treaty to protect wetlands was first discussed in the MAR Conference.

• The treaty was negotiated from the year 1963 to 1970. 
• Finally, in the year 1971,18 nations agreed to the provisions of the treaty.
• It declared the wetlands to be of international importance, especially for the sake of the water habitat. 
• Australia was the first country to agree to the convention.
• Australia’s Cobourg Peninsula was declared as the first Ramsar site. 
• The Convention officially came into force in 1975, and UNESCO became its depository. 
• India became a party to the treaty in the year 1981.
• The Ramsar convention declared Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park as Ramsar sites.

Purpose of the Ramsar Convention

There are four main purpose of the Ramsar convention which are listed below: 

• To work towards the sustainable use of wetlands.
• Assign wetlands to the Ramsar list to manage them effectively.
• To bring together various countries for international cooperation.
• Lastly, to manage the transboundary wetlands, shared wetlands and species.

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Ramsar Sites in India

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The various Ramsar Sites located in India are as follows:

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Facts about Ramsar Convention

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The Ramsar Convention was first modified by the Paris Protocol in 1982 and then by the Regina Amendments in 1987. Here are some basic facts about Ramsar Convention - 

• 171 countries are the member countries of Ramsar Convention as of October 2020.
• The main focus of the treaty is to focus on habitat conservation for the water birds.
• In 1990, a mechanism was launched associated with the Ramsar Advisory Mission known as the Montreux Record.
• Montreux Record is a register containing the list of names of those Ramsar Sites that are in urgent need of attention.
• It was first celebrated in 1977 to promote the mission of the Ramsar Convention.
• The contracting parties to the treaty meet at an interval of every three years.
• Ramsar Convention has a 6-year strategic plan. 
• The last plan was formulated in 2016 to 2024, which was approved at Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP) of the convention.
• The standing committee of the convention has 18 members that are elected as COP till the next COP elects its members.
• Convention carries out its works in 3 languages namely English, Spanish and French.

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Ramsar Sites as Part of Montreux Record

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Montreux Record was maintained to be a list of Ramsar Sites as per the treaty. There are 48 sites includes in the list as per montreux record. Some of the ramsar sites as per montreux record are as follows: