RAMSAR Sites

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an international treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable use of wetlands. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Convention was signed in 1971.

What is the meaning of Ramsar Sites?

A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, also known as "The Convention on Wetlands", an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975.

• It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands and wise sustainable use of their resources.
• Ramsar identifies wetlands of international importance, rare or unique wetland types or for their importance in conserving biological diversity, especially those providing waterfowl habitat.

It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.

Contracting Parties

Managing wetlands is a global challenge and the Convention presently counts 172 countries as Contracting Parties, which recognize the value of having one international treaty dedicated to a single ecosystem.

The Contracting Parties approved the Fourth Ramsar Strategic Plan for 2016-2024 at COP12.

• The Plan lays out a new vision under the Convention mission, four overall goals and 19 specific targets which are designed to support the efforts of Parties, partners and other stakeholders in preventing, stopping and reversing the global decline of wetlands.

Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:

• work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;
• designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;
• cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.

At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party must designate at least one wetland site within their territory for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the "Ramsar List"). 

Implementing the Ramsar Strategic Plan and its goals and targets will also contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets.

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Criteria for Ramsar Sites

List of Ramsar Wetlands Sites in India (As on January 2024)

  Source: MoEFCC & State Forest Departments

Also read: India adds five wetlands to "Ramsar Sites"

Benefits of Wetland Conservation

• Increased biodiversity.
• Replenished and filtered water supply.
• Enhanced protection against floods and storms.
• More local and sustainable livelihoods, less poverty.
• Increased tourism, higher quality leisure time.
• Increased carbon storage and avoided emissions.
• Inner satisfaction of achieving a transformation.
• Absorb floodwater like sponges

Best practices in wetland restoration

• Consider the multitude of services the natural wetland provided, and aim to recapture a wide range of those benefits, not just one or two.
• Aim to recreate a wetland ecosystem that can maintain itself
• Integrate local communities and industries during planning and implementation.
• Identify the causes of degradation and limit or eliminate them.
• Clean up the degraded area.
• Restore native vegetation and wildlife, and remove invasive species.
• Restrict site access, creating specific places for people and animals.

As we reflect on the ecological and cultural significance of Ramsar sites, it's imperative to recognize our collective responsibility to preserve these vital wetlands for future generations, ensuring the continuity of biodiversity and the sustenance of local communities that depend on them.

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