Wetlands & Ramsar Sites in India for UPSC

Learn about Ramsar Sites in India and their importance for UPSC preparation. Understand the Ramsar Convention, criteria for wetland designation, and their ecological significance. Explore how these sites contribute to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. This editorial covers updates from The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, and Yojana, helping you enhance your Prelims & Mains preparation. Strengthen your knowledge of environmental laws, policies, and conservation efforts. Stay ahead in your UPSC journey with this detailed analysis of India's wetlands.
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1. CONTEXT: The Centre has announced the addition of four new Ramsar sites in India, increasing the total to 89. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change made the announcement ahead of World Wetlands Day (February 2).

2. INDIA  Multiple countries hosted World Wetlands Day 2025, including India, Cambodia, and Geneva.  The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ( MoEFCC ) hosted celebrations at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh on February 2, 2025.

3. The day's theme was "Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future". India also designated four new Ramsar sites: Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand, Theerthangal and Sakkarakottai in Tamil Nadu, and Khecheopalri in Sikkim.

4. MORE IN NEWS: Inclusion of new wetlands brings the total number of globally recognized wetlands in the country to 89 The newly designated sites are: Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary and Therthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. Khecheopalri Wetland in Sikkim. Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand. Tamil Nadu leads with the highest number (20) of Ramsar Sites.

5. ABOUT RAMSAR SITES Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance , designated under the Ramsar Convention .

6. The treaty is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where it was signed on 2nd February 1971.  February 2nd is celebrated every year as World Wetlands Day. The Ramsar Convention came into force in 1975. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty focused on “the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.” 

7. The convention has three main pillars: Work towards the wise use of all wetlands. Designate suitable wetlands for the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List) and ensure their effective management.

8. Cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems, and shared species. India signed the Ramsar Convention on February 1, 1982.

9. DEFINITION OF WETLANDS According to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, wetlands are defined as: Areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary.

10. They include areas with static or flowing water, fresh, brackish, or saltwater, including marine areas where the water depth at low tide does not exceed six meters. Wetlands are transitional zones between terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water) ecosystems.

11. SIGNIFICANCE OF WETLANDS Source of Water: Wetlands absorb rainwater and help recharge groundwater. Flood and Storm Buffer: They act like sponges, absorbing rainfall and snowmelt, and allowing water to percolate gently into the soil, reducing the risk of floods.

12. WATER PURIFICATION: Wetlands trap contaminants in sediments and plants, reducing pollutants like phosphorus and nitrogen from agricultural runoff. Habitats for Migratory Birds: Wetlands provide feeding, resting, and nesting grounds for migratory birds.

13. BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: Many wetlands are home to a variety of endemic and endangered species. For example, Keibul Lamjao , a floating national park in Manipur, is the only natural habitat of the globally endangered Brow-antlered Deer.

14. RAMSAR SITES CRITERIA The nine criteria for identifying Wetlands of International Importance: Group A of the Criteria: Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types

15. A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region. CRITERION 1:

16. Group B of the Criteria: Sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity Criteria based on species and ecological communities CRITERION 2: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.

17. CRITERION 3: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.

18. A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions. CRITERION 4:

19. SPECIFIC CRITERIA BASED ON WATERBIRDS CRITERION 5: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds. 

20. CRITERION 6: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.

21. SPECIFIC CRITERIA BASED ON FISH Criterion 7: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity.

22. A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend. CRITERION 8:

23. SPECIFIC CRITERIA BASED ON OTHER TAXA CRITERION 9: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent nonavian animal species.

24. MONTREUX RECORD The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the Ramsar List where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to human interference, pollution, or technological developments. It serves as a tool to monitor and address threats to these important ecosystems.

25. AS OF NOW, TWO INDIAN WETLANDS ARE LISTED IN THE MONTREUX RECORD: Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan (Added in 1990): Located in Bharatpur , it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

26. Loktak Lake, Manipur (Added in 1993): The largest freshwater lake in northeastern India, famous for Phumdis (floating vegetation).

27. CHILIKA LAKE (ODISHA) WAS PLACED IN THE RECORD BUT WAS LATER REMOVED FROM IT. It was placed on the Montreux Record in 1993 due to problems caused by siltation and sedimentation which was choking the mouth of the lake.

28. It was removed from the Record in 2002 following rehabilitation efforts.  For this, the Chilika Development Authority received the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award for 2002

29. NUMBER OF RAMSAR SITES IN INDIA As of February 2025 , India has 89 Ramsar Sites . These cover an area of 1.33 million hectares . Tamil Nadu now leads India with 20 Ramsar sites, the highest number in the country. Uttar Pradesh follows with 10 sites.

30. Sikkim and Jharkhand have received their first Ramsar sites : Khecheopalri Wetland and Udhwa Lake, respectively. India ranks third globally with 89 Ramsar sites, after the United Kingdom (176) and Mexico (144). India also has the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia.

31. Over the last decade, India’s Ramsar sites have increased to 89, with 47 sites added in the last three years.

32. NEW RAMSAR SITES KHECHEOPALRI LAKE (SIKKIM) Originally known as Kha-Chot-Palri , meaning “the heaven of Padmasambhava ,” this lake is located near Khecheopalri village in West Sikkim.

33. It is considered sacred by both Buddhists and Hindus and is believed to be a wish-fulfilling lake. The local name for the lake is Sho Dzo Sho, which means “Oh Lady, Sit Here.”

34. The lake drains water from the Ramam watershed, named after the Ramam mountain.

35. UDHWA LAKE BIRD SANCTUARY (JHARKHAND) Located in the Sahibganj district of Jharkhand, this sanctuary is situated on the floodplain of the Ganga River. It consists of two interconnected water bodies, Patauda and Berhale , which are linked by a water channel.

36. Recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA), the sanctuary is significant for avian habitat conservation.

37. SAKKARAKOTTAI BIRD SANCTUARY (TAMIL NADU) Located in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, this sanctuary is an irrigation tank that stores water for agriculture. The tank is recharged by the northeast monsoon from October to January.

38. This sanctuary lies along the Central Asian Flyway, serving as a critical breeding and foraging ground for waterbirds such as the Spot billed Pelican, Egret, Common Myna, Grey Heron etc.

39. THERTHANGAL BIRD SANCTUARY  (TAMIL NADU) Therthangal Bird Sanctuary is located in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. It serves as a critical breeding and foraging ground for various waterbird species such as the White -breasted Kingfisher, Spot- billed Pelican, Brahminy Kite etc.

40. RAMSAR SITES ADDED IN 2024 (IMPORTANT FOR UPSC PRELIMS 2025) India added three new wetlands in August 2024 - Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in TamilNadu , and Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh - to its list of Ramsar sites, bringing the total to 85.

41. These wetlands account for around 10% of India’s total wetland area across 18 states , with Tamil Nadu having the most Ramsar sites (18), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10).

42. NANJARAYAN BIRD SANCTUARY (TAMIL NADU) Large shallow wetland named after King Nanjarayan . Water Source : Relies on heavy rainfall and the Nallar drainage.

43. ECOLOGICAL ROLE : Serves as a feeding and nesting habitat for resident and migratory birds, and provides water for agriculture.

44. KAZHUVELI BIRD SANCTUARY (TAMIL NADU) Location : Brackish shallow lake on the Coromandel Coast, north of Pondicherry. Connections : Linked to the Bay of Bengal via Uppukalli Creek and Yedayanthittu estuary.

45. Ecological Significance : Lies in the Central Asian Flyway, serving as a breeding ground for birds and fish , and contributes to aquifer recharge. It also contains degraded mangrove patches with Avicennia species.

46. TAWA RESERVOIR (MADHYA PRADESH) Location : Inside Satpura Tiger Reserve , bordering Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary. Construction : Built at the confluence of the Tawa and Denwa rivers .

47. Water Source : The Tawa River, a left-bank tributary of the Narmada River, originates from Mahadeo Hills , with major tributaries being the Malanni , Sonbhadra , and Nagdwari rivers.

48. IMPORTANT RAMSAR SITES IN INDIA NORTH INDIA Wular Lake (J&K) – Largest freshwater lake in India. Pong Dam (Himachal Pradesh) – Important for migratory birds. Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) – UNESCO World Heritage Site.

49. NORTHEAST INDIA Deepor Beel (Assam) – Important for endangered species. Rudrasagar Lake (Tripura) – Hosts waterfowl and fish diversity.

50. WESTERN INDIA Nalsarovar Lake (Gujarat) – Largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat. Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) – Largest inland saltwater lake in India.

51. CENTRAL INDIA BHOJ WETLAND (MADHYA PRADESH) – URBAN WETLAND NEAR BHOPAL Southern India Kolleru Lake (Andhra Pradesh) – Large freshwater lake. Point Calimere (Tamil Nadu) – Mangrove wetland.

52. EASTERN INDIA Sundarbans Wetland (West Bengal) – Largest mangrove forest in the world.

53. THREATS TO WETLANDS Encroachment and urbanization Pollution and industrial waste Excessive agriculture and groundwater extraction Invasive species affecting biodiversity Climate change and rising sea levels

54. CONSERVATION EFFORTS Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 – Restricts activities harming wetlands. National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) – Funds conservation projects.

55. Ramsar Convention framework – Monitors and protects Ramsar sites. Community-based conservation programs – Involvement of local stakeholders.

56. UPSC PRELIMS FACTS India’s first Ramsar Site – Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India in 1981. Largest Ramsar Site in India – Sundarbans Wetland. Smallest Ramsar Site in India – Renuka Wetland (Himachal Pradesh).

57. State with the most Ramsar Sites Tamil Nadu (20 sites).

58. L𝐚S𝐭 𝟗 𝐀D𝐝E𝐝 𝐑A𝐦S𝐚R S𝐢T𝐞S: Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim) Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand) Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)

59. Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) Tawa Reservoir (Madhya Pradesh) Nagi Bird Sanctuary (Bihar) Nakti Bird Sanctuary (Bihar)

60. WORLD'S FIRST SITE: COBOURG PENINSULA IN AUSTRALIA, DESIGNATED IN 1974. World's 3 Largest Sites: Rio Negro in Brazil (120,000 square kilometres) Ngiri-Tumba-Maindombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo  (60,000 square km.) Queen Maud Gulf in Canada (60,000 square km.) 

61. CONCLUSION Wetlands are ecological powerhouses that support biodiversity, regulate climate, and provide livelihoods . Ramsar Sites play a crucial role in global and national conservation efforts. Strong policy implementation and community participation are essential for protecting wetlands.

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