Global Protection of Wetlands
To understand global efforts for wetland conservation, imagine the early 1970s.
Industrialization was booming, and wetlands across continents were being filled for agriculture or construction. Scientists realized these ecosystems weren’t wastelands — they were life-support systems. This realization led to the world’s first environmental treaty focusing on a specific ecosystem — the Ramsar Convention.
🧭 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- Full Name: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat
- Signed: 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
- Came into Force: 1975
- Number of Parties: 172 countries (as of 2025)
- India joined: 1982
- World Wetlands Day: Observed on 2nd February every year.
- 2025 Theme: “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future” (adopted at COP15, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, July 2025)
🌿 Ramsar Philosophy
At the heart of the Ramsar Convention lies the idea of “Wise Use” — the maintenance of the ecological character of wetlands while ensuring sustainable development.
In simple words, it doesn’t demand complete protection (like a tiger reserve might). Instead, it says — use wetlands, but wisely.
🌎 Criteria for Identifying Ramsar Wetlands
To be listed as a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site), a site must satisfy one or more of the following nine criteria:
| Criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| 1️⃣ Uniqueness | A rare or unique example of a natural wetland type. |
| 2️⃣ Endangered Species | Supports populations of threatened or endangered species. |
| 3️⃣ Biodiversity Maintenance | Hosts species vital for maintaining biological diversity. |
| 4️⃣ Life-cycle Support | Provides refuge or breeding ground during critical stages. |
| 5️⃣ Waterbird Population | Regularly supports 20,000+ waterbirds. |
| 6️⃣ Single Species Population | Holds 1% or more of a species’ global population. |
| 7️⃣ Indigenous Fish | Supports significant native fish populations. |
| 8️⃣ Fish Lifecycle Support | Serves as spawning or nursery ground or migration route. |
| 9️⃣ Human Use | Plays an important role in local food, water, or ecotourism. |
🧠 For UPSC:
Ramsar criteria link biodiversity value with sustainable human use — a direct embodiment of the “wise use” principle.
🧩 Governance – The Conference of Parties (COP)
Every three years, representatives of all Contracting Parties meet to review implementation progress.
- COP13 (2018): Dubai, UAE
- COP14 (2022): Hybrid — Wuhan (China) & Geneva (Switzerland)
- Adopted the Wuhan Declaration and the Global Strategic Framework (2025–2030).
- Emphasized integrating wetlands into national climate and biodiversity strategies.
- COP15 (2025): Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (23–31 July 2025)
- Adopted the Victoria Falls Declaration
- Passed 13 resolutions focusing on:
- Wetland restoration and climate resilience
- Protection of migratory birds and wetland-dependent species
- Equitable wetland governance with stronger roles for indigenous knowledge and local communities
- Launched the 5th Strategic Plan (2025–2035), setting long-term goals for wetland conservation and wise use
📜 Obligations of Contracting Parties
By joining the Ramsar Convention, countries commit to three key actions:
| Obligation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🏞️ Designation | Nominate at least one site to the Ramsar List. |
| 🧭 Wise Use | Maintain ecological character through national planning and policies. |
| 🧩 International Cooperation | Work jointly on shared (transboundary) wetland systems. |
Although these commitments are not legally binding, they carry moral and diplomatic weight.
🤝 International Organisation Partners (IOPs)
Ramsar collaborates with six key organisations that provide expertise, funding, and field-level support:
| Organisation | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| 🐦 BirdLife International | Avian biodiversity and migratory bird protection. |
| 🌿 IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) | Species Red List, global conservation policies. |
| 💧 IWMI (International Water Management Institute) | Water use, irrigation, and wetland management. |
| 🌊 Wetlands International | Global NGO focusing on wetland restoration and policy advocacy. |
| 🐼 WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) | Funding, awareness, and habitat conservation. |
| 🦆 WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) | Research and public education on wetlands and waterfowl. |
🧭 Other Convention Partners
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
- UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- World Heritage Convention (WHC)
- CITES (Trade in Endangered Species)
- UNEP, UNDP and other UN agencies support projects.
🌐 Ramsar Sites – The Global Network
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Ramsar Sites | Over 2,500 sites worldwide |
| Total Area Covered | ≈ 2.5 million sq. km |
| Countries Participating | 172 contracting parties |
| World’s First Site | Cobourg Peninsula (Australia, 1974) |
| Most Sites | United Kingdom (175), Mexico (142) |
| Largest Area under Protection | Bolivia |
| India’s First Ramsar Site | Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) – both in 1981 |
🧭 Ramsar Sites form the world’s largest coordinated network of protected areas.
🔁 Deletion & Boundary Change
A country may alter or remove a Ramsar Site only in “urgent national interest.”
However, such deletion must be compensated by designating an equivalent wetland area elsewhere.
✅ No Ramsar site has ever been fully deleted so far — an indicator of the Convention’s effectiveness.
🌉 Transboundary Ramsar Sites
When a wetland stretches across two or more countries, the Convention allows them to declare it jointly as a Transboundary Ramsar Site, encouraging cooperative management.
🧠 Example:
The Danube Delta (shared by Romania and Ukraine) is one of the most prominent transboundary Ramsar sites.
⚠️ The Montreux Record – Ramsar’s “Red List”
- This is a register of Ramsar Sites facing ecological threats — such as pollution, overexploitation, or development.
- It identifies sites “where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur.”
✅ Purpose:
To prioritise global attention, funding, and corrective action.
🧠 Analogy for students:
Just as the IUCN Red List identifies threatened species, the Montreux Record identifies threatened wetlands.
🧩 India and Ramsar Convention – Snapshot
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year of Accession | 1982 |
| Total Ramsar Sites (as of 2025) | 94 sites, covering ~13.6 lakh hectares |
| Global Rank (by number) | Among the Top 5 countries |
| Notable Sites | Sundarbans, Wular Lake, Loktak Lake, Chilika, Sambhar, Bhitarkanika |
| Nodal Agency | MoEFCC and State Wetland Authorities under the 2017 Rules |
🌿 Core Takeaway
The Ramsar Convention embodies the world’s collective understanding that wetlands are not wastelands.
Their wise use is the bridge between ecological integrity and human progress.