Ramsar Sites in India

Key Highlights:

• India's Ramsar Sites network has expanded nearly fourfold since 2014, from 26 to 103 sites, covering over 13.87 lakh hectares.
• India ranks first in Asia and third globally in terms of the number of Ramsar Sites.
• The latest additions to the list are Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh) and Sauj Jheel (Uttar Pradesh), bringing the total to 103 as of October 15, 2026.
• Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were India’s first Ramsar Sites, designated in 1981.
• Sundarban Wetland (West Bengal) is India’s largest Ramsar Site, covering 4,23,000 hectares.
• Key government initiatives supporting wetland conservation include Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA), Amrit Dharohar, and MISHTI.

Detailed Insights:

• Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or salt water.
• The Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty for wetland conservation, was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971, and came into force in 1975.
• India became a Party to the Ramsar Convention on February 1, 1982.
• A Ramsar Site is designated based on ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological, or hydrological significance, meeting at least one of nine criteria related to wetland types or biological diversity.
• The three pillars of the Ramsar Convention are wise use of all wetlands, designation and effective management of Ramsar Sites, and international cooperation.
• Designation as a Ramsar Site enhances international visibility, provides access to global standards and expert assistance, and encourages international cooperation and financial support.
• After designation, states are committed to the wise use of the wetland, formal notification under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and regular monitoring.
• Montreux Record is a register of Ramsar Sites where ecological character has changed, is changing, or is likely to change, requiring priority conservation attention.
• Chilika Lake was removed from the Montreux Record in 2002 after successful ecological restoration.
• Amrit Dharohar promotes the unique conservation values of Ramsar Sites, covering species and habitat conservation, nature tourism, and wetland livelihoods.
• MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) targets mangrove restoration over 540 square kilometers.
• Indore and Udaipur became India’s first Ramsar-accredited Wetland Cities in January 2025.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ramsar Convention: An international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
• Ramsar Site: A wetland designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Montreux Record: A register of Ramsar Sites where changes in ecological character have occurred or are likely to occur.
• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017: Regulatory framework in India for wetland conservation, notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.