Ramsar Sites

Meaning: Wetlands are areas where the land is covered with water, meaning the water table is at or near the surface of the land.

Types of Wetlands:

• Natural: Marshes, swamps, lakes, estuaries, deltas, mangroves, coral reefs, and even underground wetlands.
• Man-made: Fishponds, rice paddies, salt pans, and reservoirs.

International Importance: These sites are protected globally due to their immense ecological, botanical, zoological, and hydrological value.

Main Goal: To maintain an international network of wetlands that conserves global biological diversity and sustains human life by providing essential ecosystem services.

An international treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands.

• Origin: Named after the city of Ramsar, Iran, where the treaty was signed on February 2, 1971 (it officially came into force on December 21, 1975).
• World Wetland Day: Celebrated globally every year on February 2nd to commemorate the signing of the treaty.
• Membership: Grown from 21 initial signatory nations in 1971 to 169 contracting parties today.
• Selection Criteria: Sites are designated based on 9 specific criteria. Eight of these are strictly biodiversity criteria, emphasising the vital link between wetland ecosystems and the resources humans depend on (like fish, fruits, wood, and medicines).

Global Scale: There are over 2,008 Ramsar sites worldwide, covering more than 210.7 million hectares.

Leading Countries:

• Highest number of sites: The United Kingdom (170 sites).
• Greatest area of wetlands: Bolivia (over 140,000 sq. km).

Status in India: India has 26 officially designated Ramsar sites, with 6 additional wetlands currently in the process of being designated.

According to WWF-India, wetlands represent one of the most severely threatened ecosystems in the country. They are rapidly being damaged by:

• Loss of vegetation and salinisation.
• Excessive inundation and severe water pollution.
• The introduction of invasive species.
• Aggressive human development and extensive road building.

• Ramsar sites are internationally significant wetlands, including natural areas like marshes and mangroves as well as man-made reservoirs, which are essential for sustaining global biological diversity.
• The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty signed in Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971, aimed at the conservation and sustainable utilization of these wetland ecosystems.
• In recognition of the treaty's signing, World Wetland Day is celebrated globally every year on February 2nd.
• Wetlands are designated as Ramsar sites based on nine specific criteria – eight of which focus on biodiversity – to protect the ecosystems and the resources upon which humans depend.
• There are over 2,008 Ramsar sites across 169 countries globally, with the United Kingdom having the highest number of sites and Bolivia holding the largest total wetland area.
• India has 26 designated Ramsar sites, though these critical ecosystems face severe threats from water pollution, invasive species, and aggressive human development.