Ramsar (Wetlands) Convention

• International Treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands (RAMSAR CONVENTION) was signed at a city of Iran called Ramsar in 1971. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands
• Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”
• There are currently over 2,400 Ramsar Sites around the world. Most Sites are the United Kingdom with 175 and Mexico with 142.
• 2 feb is celebrated as World wetlands day.

Ramsar Sites in India

• Ramsar Convention came into force for India on 1st February, 1982.
• On 2nd February 2021, India’s first Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management has been set up in Chennai under MoEFCC at the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
• India has total 42 Wetlands of International Importance.
• 42nd : In December 2020 – The Tso Kar Wetland Complex, Ladakh.  This includes the high-altitude wetland complex of two connected lakes, Startsapuk Tso and Tso Kar, in Ladakh.
• 41st: November 2020 in Maharashtra – Lonar Lake
• 40: Agra (Uttar Pradesh) – Sur Sarovar also called, Keetham Lake, alongside river Yamuna
• 39: Uttarakhand – Asan Barrage,
• 38: Kabartal Wetland (Bihar)

• Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of Ramsar Sites in India
• Renuka lake in Himachal Pradesh Smallest Ramsar Sites in India
• Vembanad – Kol is Largest Ramsar Sites in India with 151,250 ha

List of Ramsar Sites in INDIA

Serial number	Ramsar Sites	Location
1	Asan Conservation Reserve	Uttarakhand
2	Ashtamudi Wetland	Kerala
3	Beas Conservation Reserve	Punjab
4	Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Odisha
5	Bhoj Wetlands	Madhya Pradesh
6	Chandra Taal	Himachal Pradesh
7	Chilika Lake	Odisha
8	Deepor Beel	Assam
9	East Kolkata Wetlands	West Bengal
10	Harike lake	Punjab
11	Hokera Wetland	Jammu and Kashmir
12	Kabartal Wetland	Bihar
13	Kanjli Wetland	Punjab
14	Keoladeo National Park	Rajasthan
15	Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve	Punjab
16	Kolleru Lake	Andhra Pradesh
17	Loktak Lake	Manipur
18	Lonar Lake	Maharashtra
19	Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary	Gujarat
20	Nandur Madhameshwar	Maharashtra
21	Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary	Punjab
22	Shahid Chandrasekhar Azad (Earlier Nawabganj) Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
23	Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
24	Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu
25	Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan
26	Samaspur Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
27	Saman Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
28	Rudrasagar Lake	Tripura
29	Ropar Wetland	Punjab
30	Pong Dam Lake	Himachal Pradesh
31	Renuka Lake	Himachal Pradesh
32	Sandi Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
33	Sarsai Nawar Jheel	Uttar Pradesh
34	Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala
35	Sunderbans Wetland	West Bengal
36	Surinsar- Mansar Lakes	Jammu and Kashmir
37	Sur Sarovar	Uttar Pradesh
38	Tso Moriri	Ladakh
39	Tso Kar wetland complex	Ladakh
40	Upper Ganga River	Uttar Pradesh
41	Vembanad Kol Wetland	Kerala
42	Wular Lake	Jammu and Kashmir

List of all Ramsar Sites in India

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.
• At present, two wetlands of India are in Montreux Record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
• Chilika Lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but later removed from it.