
Wetlands are water-bound ecosystems, ie a piece of land that is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. They include mangroves, marshes, rivers, lakes, deltas, floodplains, forests, rice-fields, and even coral reefs.
The destruction of wetlands due to urbanization is a major concern nowadays because they are some of the most productive environments and habitats of the rare species of plants and animals on the planet.
What are Ramsar Sites?
Wetlands of international importance are known as Ramsar sites. They are selected based on the ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological or hydrological importance.
Ramsar is a city in Iran where an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands was signed on February 2, 1971. These days, Ramsar Convention has over 2,300 Ramsar Sites, six partner organizations, and 171 participating countries. It should be noted that the Ramsar Convention is not a part of the United Nations.
Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as
areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at a low tide does not exceed six metres.
Ramsar Classification of Wetlands
Wetlands are classified into 5 types based on hydrology, soil type, and biota. They are:
- Riverine – wetlands along rivers & streams.
- Lacustrine – wetlands associated with lakes.
- Palustrine – marshes, swamps & bogs.
- Estuarine – deltas, tidal marshes and mudflats, & mangrove swamps.
- Marine – coastal wetlands including coastal lagoons, seagrass beds, rocky shores & coral reefs.
- Riverine – wetlands along rivers & streams.
- Lacustrine – wetlands associated with lakes.
- Palustrine – marshes, swamps & bogs.
- Estuarine – deltas, tidal marshes and mudflats, & mangrove swamps.
- Marine – coastal wetlands including coastal lagoons, seagrass beds, rocky shores & coral reefs.
Montreux Record
The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the ‘List of Wetlands of International Importance.’ It was established in 1990. The record keeps track of variations in ecological character that has happened, are happening, or are likely to happen mainly due to human interference, urbanization, and pollution.
Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur) from India are included in the Montreux Record.
Basic Facts
- Total No. of Wetlands in India – 46.
- First Ramsar Wetland in India – Chilika Lake (1981).
- Indian State with most no. of Wetlands – Uttar Pradesh (7).
- Largest Ramsar Site Wetland in India – Sundarban Wetlands (4230 sq.km.)
- Smallest Ramsar Site Wetland in India – Renuka Lake (0.4 sq.km.)
- First Ramsar Site in the World – Cobourg Peninsula (Australia, 1974).
- Largest Ramar Site in the World – Rio Negro (Brazil, 120,000 sq.km.).
- The country with the highest no. of Ramsar Wetlands Sites – United Kingdom (175).
- Newest Ramsar Sites in India – Sultanpur National Park (Haryana, 2021).
List of Ramsar Sites in India
As of August 2021, there are 46 wetland sites throughout India.
Name | State | Date of Declaration |
---|---|---|
Asan Barrage | Uttarakhand | 21 July 2020 |
Ashtamudi Wetland | Kerala | 19 August 2002 |
Beas Conservation Reserve* | Haryana | 25 May 2021 |
Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary | Orissa | 19 August 2002 |
Bhitarkanika Mangroves | Orissa | 19 August 2002 |
Bhoj Wetlands | Madhya Pradesh | 19 August 2002 |
Chandra Taal | Himachal Pradesh | 8 November 2005 |
Chilika Lake | Orissa | 1 October 1981 |
Deepor Beel | Assam | 19 August 2002 |
East Kolkatta Wetlands | West Bengal | 19 August 2002 |
Haiderpur Wetland | Uttar Pradesh | 13 April 2021 |
Harike Lake | Punjab | 23 March 1990 |
Hokera Wetland | Jammu & Kashmir | 8 November 2005 |
Kanjli Lake | Punjab | 22 January 2002 |
Kanwar Taal / Kabar Taal Lake | Bihar | 21 July 2020 |
Keoladeo Ghana National Park | Rajasthan | 1 October 1981 |
Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh | 19 August 2002 |
Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve | Punjab | 26 September 2019 |
Loktak Lake | Manipur | 23 March 1990 |
Lonar Lake | Maharashtra | 13 November 2020 |
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary | Gujarat | 24 September 2012 |
Nandur Madhameshwar | Maharashtra | 21 September 2019 |
Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary | Punjab | 26 September 2019 |
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 19 September 2019 |
Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 2 December 2019 |
Point Calimere Wildlife & Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 19 August 2002 |
Pong Dam Lake | Himachal Pradesh | 19 August 2002 |
Renuka Wetland | Himachal Pradesh | 8 November 2005 |
Ropar Lake | Punjab | 22 January 2002 |
Rudrasagar Lake | Tripura | 8 November 2005 |
Saman Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 2 December 2019 |
Samaspur Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 3 October 2019 |
Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan | 23 March 1990 |
Sandi Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 26 September 2019 |
Sarsai Nawar Jheel | Uttar Pradesh | 19 September 2019 |
Sasthamkotta Lake | Kerala | 19 August 2002 |
Sultanpur National Park* | Haryana | 25 May 2021 |
Sunderbans Wetland | West Bengal | 30 January 2019 |
Sur Sarovar | Uttar Pradesh | 13 November 2020 |
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes | Jammu & Kashmir | 8 November 2005 |
Thol Lake | Gujarat | 05 April 2021 |
Tso Kar | Ladakh | 17 November 2020 |
Tsomoriri | Jammu & Kashmir | 19 August 2002 |
Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch) | Uttar Pradesh | 8 November 2005 |
Vembanad-Kol Wetland | Kerala | 19 August 2002 |
Wadhvana Wetland | Gujarat | 05 April 2021 |
Wular Lake | Jammu & Kashmir | 23 March 1990 |
- Total No.of Wetlands in Kerala – 3
- Vembanad-Kol Wetland
- Sasthamkotta Lake
- Ashtamudi Wetland
📝 SideNotes:
- World Wetlands Day – February 2.
- Biota – Plants and animals of a particular habitat or ecosystem.
- Palustrine – Marshy.
- Largest Freshwater Lake in India – Wular Lake.
- Longest Lake in India – Vembanad Lake.
- Largest Mangrove Forest in the World – Sundarbans.
- Keoladeo National Park – Formerly known as Bharatpur Bird sanctuary.
Thanks for reading!!!
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