News: Ramsar has declared 10 more wetland sites from India as sites of international importance. With this, the numbers of Ramsar sites in India are now 37
Facts:
Ramsar Sites: It is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The new Indian Ramsar sites include:
- Nandur Madhameshwar bird sanctuary- Maharashtra
- Beas conservation reserve, Keshopur-Miani community reserve and Nangal wildlife sanctuary- Punjab
- Nawabganj bird sanctuary, Parvati Arga bird sanctuary, Saman bird sanctuary, Sarsai Nawar Lake, Samaspur bird sanctuary and Sandi bird sanctuary- Uttar Pradesh
Additional Information:
Ramsar Convention on Wetland (1971): It is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources
Montreux Record: It is a register of wetland sites on the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance. It shows such sites where there has been or likely to be adverse ecological changes due to anthropogenic activities. Indian sites in the Montreux Record are Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), Loktak Lake (Manipur).
Wetland Restoration in India:
- Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017: It prohibits conversion for non-wetland uses, setting up or expansion of industries in wetland areas and disposal of construction and demolition waste within the wetlands.
- National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA): Launched in 2015 by merging of the National Lake Conservation Plan and the National Wetlands Conservation Programme. It aims at holistic conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands.
- Wetland health cards: In 2019, government identified 130 wetlands in the country to be restored in the next five years. Each wetland will be issued a health card, which will denote its health.
- Wetland Mitras: Selected individuals for taking care of the 130 identified wetlands across India.
