06/09/2023
Ramsar Sites in India
As of May 2023, there are 75 Ramsar Sites in India.
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 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 it was signed on 2nd of February 1971.
The 2nd of February each year is World Wetlands Day.
The number of parties to the convention (COP) is 171 (as of Jan 2023).
At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands.
Wise use: maintenance of ecological character within the context of sustainable development.
Ramsar Site
When a country accedes to the Convention, it must designate at least one wetland as a Wetland 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.
There are over 2,400 Ramsar Sites covering 2.5 million sq km on the territories of 171 Ramsar Contracting Parties across the world.
The world’s first Site was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974.
The countries with the most Ramsar Sites are the United Kingdom with 175 and Mexico with 142.
Bolivia has the largest area under Ramsar protection.
