Table of Contents

Measures to Protect Wetlands

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Ramsar Sites in India
Wetlands International
National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP)

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

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.
The Convention was signed on 2^nd of February, 1971.
The 2nd of February each year is World Wetlands Day.
Number of parties to the convention (COP) is169.
At the center of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands.
Wise use: maintenance of ecological character within the context of sustainable development.

Need for Such Convention

Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.
64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in the last century.

What is wetland

The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatland, 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.

COP

Conference of the Parties (COP) is the Convention’s governing body consisting of all governments that have ratified the treaty.
Every three years, representatives of the Contracting Parties meet as the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP)
COP is the policy-making organ of the Convention which adopts decisions (Resolutions and Recommendations) to administer the work of the Convention.
The most recent COP12 was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay in 2015. COP13 will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2018.

Under 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 trans boundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.

Ramsar Site

At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party undertakes to designate at least one wetland site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
The inclusion of a “Ramsar Site” in the List embodies the government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.
The List of Wetlands of International Importance included 2,231 Ramsar Sites in March 2016.
The country with the highest number of Sites is the United Kingdom with 170
The country with the greatest area of listed wetlands is Bolivia.

The Montreux Record

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance 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. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

Q1. If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference.
The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any human activity within five kilo meters from the edge of the wetland
The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed
It is given the status of ‘World Heritage Site’

Answer: a)

International Organization Partners

The Ramsar Convention works closely with six other organizations known as International Organization Partners (IOPs). These are:

Birdlife International
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Wetlands International
WWF
International Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Other Partners

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS),
World Heritage Convention (WHC) and
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Project funding is done by various groups like multilateral development banks, bilateral donors, UN agencies such as UNEP, UNDP, Non-governmental organizations etc.

Transboundary Ramsar Sites

Contracting Parties are designating their new and existing Ramsar Sites as Transboundary Ramsar Sites.
These are ecologically coherent, shared wetlands extending across national borders, which are managed collaboratively.

Criteria for Identification of Wetlands under Ramsar Convention

If it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type.
if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species; or threatened ecological communities.
If it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.
If it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.
If it regularly supports 20,000 or more water birds.
If it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of water birds.
If it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies
If it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path.
If it is an important source of food and water resource, increased possibilities for recreation and eco-tourism, etc.

Ramsar Sites in India

At present, there are 26 Ramsar Sites in India.

	Wetland	State and Area in km²
1	Ashtamudi Wetland	Kerala 614	A natural backwater in Kollam district. River Kallada and Pallichal drains into it. It forms an estuary with Sea at Neendakara which is a famous fishing harbour in Kerala. National Waterway 3 passes through it.
2	Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Orissa 650	The core area of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary was declared Bhitarkanika National Park. Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary includes Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary. Bhitarkanika Mangroves, a part of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary were designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2002. It is famous for its salt water crocodiles and Olive ridley sea turtle.
3	Bhoj Wetland	Madhya Pradesh 32	The Bhoj Wetland consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal. The two lakes are the Bhojtal and the Lower Lake. It is a manmade reservoir. A total of more than 20,000 birds are observed annually. The largest bird of India, the sarus crane (Grus antigone) is found here.
4	Chandra Taal	Himachal Pradesh 0.49
5	Chilika Lake	Orissa 1165	Chilka Lake is a brackish water lagoon at the mouth of the Daya River It is spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state on the east coast of India. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest lagoon in the world. The lagoon hosts over 160 species of birds in the peak migratory season. Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Birds: White bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, flamingos, egrets, gray and purple herons, Indian roller, storks, white ibis, spoonbills, brahminy ducks, shovellers, pintails, and more. Nalbana Island is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of Chilika Lake. Nalbana was notified in 1987 and declared a bird sanctuary in 1973 under the Wildlife Protection Act. The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is the flagship species of Chilika lake. Chilka is home to the only known population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India. It is classified as critically endangered, in five of the six other places it is known to live.
6	Deepor Beel	Assam 40
7	East Calcutta Wetlands	West Bengal 125	The wetland forms an urban facility for treating the city’s waste water The wetland provides about 150 tons of fresh vegetables daily, as well as some 10,500 tons of table fish per year.
8	Harike Wetland	Punjab 41	An important site for breeding, wintering and staging birds, supporting over 200,000 Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans, etc.) during migration.
9	Hokera Wetland	Jammu and Kashmir 13.75	Hokera wetland is only 10 km away from Srinagar. 68 waterfowl species like Large Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Little Cormorant, Common Shelduck, Tufted Duck and endangered White-eyed Pochard, coming from Siberia, China, Central Asia, and Northern Europe.
10	Kanjli Wetland	Punjab 1.83
11	Keoladeo National Park	Rajasthan 28.73	A complex of ten artificial, seasonal lagoons, varying in size, situated in a densely populated region. Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to “water shortage and an unbalanced grazing regime”. Additionally, the invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has changed the ecological character of large areas of the site, reducing its suitability for certain waterbird species, notably the Siberian crane.
12	Kolleru Lake	Andhra Pradesh 901	Bird sanctury
13	Loktak Lake	Manipur 266	Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern region. Keibul Lamjao the only floating national park in the world floats over it.
14	Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary [Declared as Ramsar site in 2012. Most recent Ramsar Site in India]	Gujarat 123	A natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) that is the largest natural wetland in the Thar Desert Biogeographic Province and represents a dynamic environment with salinity and depth varying depending on rainfall. Besides a few mammalian species including the endangered wild ass and the black buck, its migratory bird population includes rosy pelicans, flamingoes, white storks, brahminy ducks and herons. Thousands of migratory waterfowl flock to this sanctuary just after the Indian monsoon season. The wetland is also a lifeline for a satellite population of the endangered Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur) which uses this area in the dry season.
15	Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu 385	One of the last remnants of Dry Evergreen Forests. Habitat:Dry Evergreen Forests, Mangrove & Wetlands. Winter Migrants : Spoon Billed Sandpiper, Greater Flamingos.
16	Pong Dam Lake	Himachal Pradesh 156	A water storage reservoir created in 1975 on the Beas River in the low foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic plain.
17	Renuka Lake	Himachal Pradesh 0.2	A natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations, fed by a small stream flowing from the lower Himalayan out to the Giri river. There are 103 species of birds of which 66 are residents, e.g. Crimson-breasted barbet, Mayna, Bulbul, Pheasants, Egrets, Herons, Mallards and Lapwing. Among ungulates Sambhar, Barking deer and Ghorals are also abundant in the area. The lake has high religious significance and is named after the mother of Hindu sage Parshuram, and is thus visited by thousands of pilgrims and tourists.
18	Ropar_Wetland	Punjab 13.65	A humanmade wetland of lake and river formed by the 1952 construction of a barrage for diversion of water from the Sutlej River for drinking and irrigation supplies. The site is an important breeding place for the nationally protected Smooth Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Sambar, and several reptiles, and the endangered Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is thought to be present. Some 35 species of fish play an important role in the food chain, and about 150 species of local and migratory birds are supported.
19	Rudrasagar Lake	Tripura 2.4
20	Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan 240	The Sambhar Salt Lake, India’s largest inland salt lake. Sambhar has been designated as a Ramsar site (recognized wetland of international importance) because the wetland is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia. The specialized algae and bacteria growing in the lake provide striking water colours and support the lake ecology that, in turn, sustains the migrating waterfowl. There is other wildlife in the nearby forests, where Nilgai move freely along with deer and foxes.
21	Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala 3.73	It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, situated inKollam district.
22	Surinsar-Mansar Lakes	Jammu and Kashmir 3.5
23	Tsomoriri	Jammu and Kashmir 120	A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level. The site is said to represent the only breeding ground outside of China for one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), and the only breeding ground for Bar-headed geese in India. The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) and Tibetan Wild Ass (Equus kiang) are endemic to the Tibetan plateau, of which the Changthang is the westernmost part.
24	Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)	Uttar Pradesh 266	The river provides habitat for IUCN Red listed Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial, Crocodile, 6 species of turtles, otters, 82 species of fish and more than hundred species of birds.
25	Vembanad-Kol Wetland	Kerala 1512	Largest lake of Kerala. Famous tourist locations like Alappuzha and Kumarakom, known for house boats falls here. River mouths of Pamba-Achenkovil rivers in Vembanad forms one of the unique wetland topography of Kerala, the Kuttanad. It is below sea level and is famous for exotic fish varieties and Paddy fields that are below sea level.
26	Wular Lake	Jammu and Kashmir 189	The largest freshwater lake in India.

Wetlands International

Wetlands International is a global organization (NGO) that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity.
It is an independent, not-for-profit organization, supported by government and NGO membership from around the world.
Wetlands International’s work ranges from research, advocacy and engagement with governments, corporate and international policy fora and conventions.

Q1. With reference to a conservation organization called ‘Wetlands International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention.
It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: b) 2 only. Wetlands International is an NGO

National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP)

NWCP was implemented in the year 1985-86.
Under the programme, 115 wetlands have been identified by the MoEF which require urgent conservation and management interventions.
Criteria for identification of wetlands of national importance under NWCP are same as those prescribed under the ‘Ramsar Convention on Wetlands’.

Aim

Conservation of wetlands to prevent their further degradation and ensuring their wise use for the benefit of local communities and overall conservation of biodiversity.

Objectives

to lay down policy guidelines for conservation and management of wetlands.
to provide financial assistance for undertaking intensive conservation measures.
to monitor implementation of the programme.
to prepare an inventory of Indian wetlands.

Federal management

The Central Government is responsible for overall coordination of wetland conservation programmes.
It also provides guidelines, financial & technical assistance to state govt.
Since the land resources belong to them, the State Governments/UT Administration are responsible for management of wetlands.