(WETLANDS)
Ramsar Convention: Introduction
•Intergovernmental treaty established by UNESCO - provides the
framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their
resources.
•Adopted on 2nd February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran
•Came into force from 21st December, 1975.
•Presently 2,439 Ramsar sites in the world
Wetland
§ Lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems
where the water table is usually at or near the surface, or
the land is covered by shallow water
• Wetlands must have one or more of the
following three attributes:
1) at least periodically, the land supports
predominantly hydrophytes;
2) the substrate is predominantly undrained
hydric soil; and
3) the substrate is saturated with water or
covered by shallow water at some time
during the growing season of each year.
Wetlands as per the 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.
For example, marine and coastal areas; Estuaries; Lakes and
rivers; Marshes and peatlands; Groundwater and human-made
wetlands such as rice paddies, shrimp ponds, and reservoirs.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CONVENTION
•Designation of wetlands for inclusion in the list of Wetlands of
International Importance.
•Maintenance & sustainable use of the Ramsar wetlands.
•Promotion of International Cooperation with regard to trans
boundary wetlands, shared water systems, and shared species.
The Ramsar Sites Criteria
Group A : Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types
Criterion 1:- Wetland must contain a representative, rare or unique example of
natural or near natural wetland type found within the appropriate bio-
geographic region.
Group B: Sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity
Criterion 2:- The wetland must support vulnerable, endangered, or critically
endangered species or threatened ecological communities.
Criterion 3:- The wetland must support populations of plant and or animal
species important to maintain the biodiversity of a particular bio-geographic
region.
The Ramsar Sites Criteria
Criterion 4:- The wetland must support plant and or animal
species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge
during adverse conditions.
Criterion 5:- The wetland must support 20,000 or more water
birds.
Criterion 6:- The wetland must regularly support 1% of the
individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of water
bird.
The Ramsar Sites Criteria
Criterion 7:- The wetland must support a significant proportion of
indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages
Criterion 8:- The wetland must be an important source of food for
fishes, spawning ground, nursery.
Criterion 9:- The wetland must support 1% of the individuals in a
population of one species of wetland dependent non-avian animal
species.
Important facts about Ramsar sites
vOne of the major protected areas in the world.
vWorld's first Ramsar site identified (1974) - Cobourg Peninsula,
Australia
vWith 175 Ramsar sites, the United Kingdom has the largest
number of such sites in the world.
vFebruary 2 is celebrated as International Wetlands Day as the
Ramsar Convention was signed on February 2, 1971
Important facts about Ramsar sites
vThere are 49 Ramsar sites in India with a surface area of
1,093,636 hectares. (as of February 2022).
vLargest Ramsar Site of India – Sundarban Wetland - surface
area 423000 hectares
vSmallest Ramsar wetland of India - Renuka Wetland in
Himachal Pradesh - surface area of 20 hectares.
Important facts about Ramsar sites
vUttar Pradesh has the largest number of Ramsar Sites in India
with 10 Indian Wetlands.
vChilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India [Designation
date : 01.10.1981]
vMontreux Record is maintained as part of the Ramsar List. It
includes those sites 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.
New Ramsar Sites in India – 2021 (total 7)
üWith this addition:
§Haryana got its first 2 Ramsar sites
§Gujarat got 3 more Ramsar sites
§Uttar Pradesh got 2 more Ramsar sites.
New Ramsar Sites in India - 2021
üIn April 2021:
§Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat
§Wadhvana Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat
§Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat
§Haiderpur Wetland in Uttar Pradesh
üIn May 2021:
§Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana
§Sultanpur National Park in Haryana
üIn June 2021:
§Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh
Ramsar Sites in India
रामसर &थल (वेटल-.स) Date of
S. No. Name of Site State Designation
1 Hokera Wetland होकेरा वेटल-ड Jammu and Kashmir 8.11.2005
2 Wular Lake वल
ु र झील Jammu & Kashmir 23.3.1990
3 Surinsar-Mansar Lakes स8ू रंसार-मानसर झील< Jammu and Kashmir 8.11.2005
4 Tsomoriri Lake =सो-मोर>र> Ladakh 19.8.2002
!सो कार आ@भBू म
5 Tso Kar Wetland Complex Ladakh 17.11.2020
प8रसर
6 Chandertal Wetland चं@ताल वेटल-ड Himachal Pradesh 8.11.2005
7 Pong Dam Lake पFग बांध झील Himachal Pradesh 19.8.2002
8 Renuka Wetland रे णक
ु ा वेटल-ड Himachal Pradesh 8.11.2005
9 Asan Conservation Reserve आसन संरKण 8रजवM Uttarakhand 21.7.2020
Ramsar Sites in India (Uttar Pradesh)
Date of
S. No. Name of Site रामसर &थल (वेटल-.स)
Designation
10 Upper Ganga River ऊपर> गंगा नद>, 8.11.2005
(Brijghat to Narora Stretch) Qजघाट से नरौरा Tखंचाव
11 Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary नवाबगंज पKी अभयारXय 19.9.2019
12 Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary पावMती अरगा पKी अभयारXय 2.12.2019
13 Saman Bird Sanctuary समन पKी अभयारXय 2.12.2019
14 Samaspur Bird Sanctuary समसपरु पKी अभयारXय 3.10.2019
15 Sandi Bird Sanctuary साXडी पKी अभयारXय 26.9.2019
16 Sarsai Nawar Jheel सरसई नावर झील 19.9.2019
17 Sur Sarovar सरु सरोबर 21.8.2020
Ramsar Sites in India (Uttar Pradesh)
Date of
S. No. Name of Site रामसर &थल (वेटल-.स)
Designation
18 Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary ब"खरा व'यजीव अभयार-य 29.06.2021
19 Haiderpur Wetland है दरपरु वेटल-ड 13.04.2021
Ramsar Sites in India
S. रामसर &थल (वेटल-.स) Date of
No.
Name of Site State Designation
20 Beas Conservation Reserve [यास संरKण 8रजवM Punjab 26.9.2019
21 Harike Lake ह8रके झील Punjab 23.3.1990
22 Kanjli Lake कंजल> झील Punjab 22.1.2002
Keshopur-Miani Community
23 केशोपरु Bमआनी क]य^ु नट> 8रजवM Punjab 26.9.2019
Reserve
24 Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary नांगल व_यजीव अभयारXय Punjab 26.9.2019
25 Ropar Lake रोपड़ झील Punjab 22.1.2002
26 Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary BभXडावास व_यजीव अभयारXय Haryana 25.05.2021
25.05.2021
27 Sultanpur National Park सa
ु तानपरु नेशनल पाकM Haryana
28 Keoladeo Ghana NP केवलादे व राbc>य उeयान Rajasthan 1.10.1981
Ramsar Sites in India
S. रामसर &थल (वेटल-.स) Date of
No.
Name of Site State Designation
29 Sambhar Lake सांभर झील Rajasthan 23.3.1990
30 Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary नालसरोवर पKी अभयारXय Gujarat 24.09.2012
31 Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary Tखजाfदय व_यजीव अभयारXय Gujarat 13.04.2021
32 Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary थोल झील व_यजीव Gujarat 05.04.2021
अभयारXय
33 Wadhvana Wildlife Sanctuary वाधवाना वेटल-ड व_यजीव Gujarat 05.04.2021
अभयारXय
34 Bhoj Wetlands भोज वेटल-ड Madhya Pradesh 19.8.2002
35 Bhitarkanika Mangroves Bभतरक^नका म-gोव Orissa 19.8.2002
36 Chilka Lake hचBलका झील Orissa 1.10.1981
Ramsar Sites in India
S. रामसर &थल (वेटल-.स) Date of
No.
Name of Site State Designation
37 Kabartal Wetland काबर तल Bihar 21.07.2020
38 Sunderbans Wetland संद
ु र वन डेaटा West Bengal 30.1.2019
39 East Kolkata Wetlands पव
ू M कलकiा वेटल-.स West Bengal 19.8.2002
40 Deepor Beel द>पोर बील Assam 19.8.2002
41 Loktak Lake लोकतक झील Manipur 23.3.1990
42 Rudrasagar Lake j@सागर झील Tripura 8.11.2005
43 Lonar Lake लोनार झील Maharashtra 22.7.2020
44 Nandur Madhameshwar नंदरू मधमेkवर Maharashtra 21.6.2019
45 Kolleru Lake कोलेj झील Andhra Pradesh 19.8.2002
Ramsar Sites in India
S. रामसर &थल (वेटल-.स) Date of
No.
Name of Site State Designation
46 Asthamudi Wetland अbटमड
ु ी वेटल-ड Kerala 19.8.2002
47 Sasthamkotta Lake स&थमकोlटा झील Kerala 19.8.2002
48 Vembanad Kol Wetland वे]बनाड-कोल वेटल-ड Kerala 19.8.2002
49 Point Calimere Wildlife and mवाइंट कैBलमेरे व_यजीव Tamil Nadu 19.8.2002
Bird Sanctuary और पKी अभयारXय
Designation date:17-11-2020
Tso Kar Wetland , Ladakh
High-altitude wetland complex, consisting of two principal waterbodies, Startsapuk Tso, a
freshwater lake of about 438 hectares to the south, and Tso Kar itself, a hypersaline lake of
1800 hectares to the north.
§It is situated in the Changthang region of Ladakh.
§It is called Tso Kar, meaning white lake, because of the white salt efflorescence found on the
margins due to the evaporation of highly saline water.
Tso Kar Wetland , Ladakh
§ Endangered saker falcon (Falco cherrug) and Asiatic wild
dog or dhole (Cuon alpinus laniger)
§ One of the most important breeding areas in India for the
black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis).
Designation date: 22-07-2020
Lonar Lake, Maharasthra
•Created by a meteorite collision impact during the Pleistocene Epoch.
•Water in the lake is both saline and alkaline.
•The colour of Lonar lake water turned pink due to a large presence of 'Haloarchaea'
microbes
Designation date: 21-08-2020
Keetham lake, Uttar Pradesh
•Sur Sarovar, also known as Keetham Lake, is a human-made reservoir; originally created to
supply water to the city of Agra in summer.
•Threatened species include the vulnerable greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga), sarus crane
(Grus antigone) and catfish Wallago attu.
Designation date: 21-07-2020
Kabartal Wetland (Bihar)
•Kanwar Jheel, covers parts of Indo-Gangetic plains in the northern Bihar.
•Five critically endangered species (3 of vultures, 2 of waterbirds) :
•the red-headed vulture, white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)
•the sociable lapwing and Baer’s pochard
Designation date: 21-07-2020
Asan Conservation Reserve (Uttarakhand)
•It is a 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River running down to its confluence with the Yamuna
River in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
•Critically endangered red-headed vulture, white-rumped vulture and Baer’s pochard
Designation date:29.06.2021
Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary
(Uttar Pradesh)
• Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary is a freshwater marsh in the Sant Kabir Nagar district.
• It is the largest natural floodplain wetland of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• The wetland is internationally important for its birdlife as it supports over 80 species.
• It provides a wintering ground for over 25 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway.
Haiderpur Wetland Designation date:13.04.2021
(Uttar Pradesh)
• Haiderpur Wetland is located within the boundaries of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Haiderpur Wetland provides habitat for numerous animal and plant species, including more
than 30 species of plants, over 300 species of birds including 102 waterbirds, more than 40
fish and more than ten mammal species.
Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary Designation date:25.05.2021
(Haryana)
• Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary is a human-made freshwater wetland, and is the largest
wetland in Haryana State.
• Over 250 species use the Sanctuary throughout the year as a resting and roosting site.
• The Site supports more than ten globally threatened species including the endangered
Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Pallas’s fish
eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) and black-bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda).
Sultanpur National Park Designation date:25.05.2021
(Haryana)
• The shallow lake at the core of the Sultanpur National Park is fed by the overflow from
neighbouring canals and fields, and replenished by saline groundwater.
• The wetland harbours a rich plant and animal life: it supports more than 220 species of
resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life
cycles.
Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary Designation date:13.04.2021
(Gujarat)
• Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary is a freshwater wetland near the coast of the Gulf of Kutch.
• The sanctuary is now part of Marine National Park, Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• More than 180 plant species are present, including the critically endangered Indian bdellium-
tree (Commiphora wightii), commonly called guggal.
• The Site contributes to the maintenance of hydrological regimes, erosion protection and
nutrient cycling.
Designation date:05.04.2021
Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
(Gujarat)
• Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species
can be found, making up some 57% of all the bird species of Gujarat.
• The area falls within the administrative jurisdiction of Mehsana district of Gujarat state.
Designation date: 05.04.2021
Wadhvana Wildlife Sanctuary
(Gujarat)
• Wadhvana Wetland is located in Dabhoi Tehsil (Taluka), Vadodara district, Gujarat.
• The wetland is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to
migratory waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway.
The Ramsar Convention works with the collaboration of the
following organizations:
üInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
üBirdlife International
üInternational Water Management Institute (IWMI).
üWetlands International
üWildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
üWWF International
