Ramsar Convention Implementation
Ramsar Convention
The ‘Convention on Wetlands’, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 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. Wetlands are the only ecosystem to have a dedicated multilateral environmental agreement of their own, the Ramsar Convention.
The Convention’s mission is ‘the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world’. Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:- work towards the wise use of all their wetlands.
- designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management.
- co-operate internationally on trans-boundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.
India and the Ramsar Convention
India became a party to the Convention on 01.02.1982 and has so far designated 41 wetlands covering an area of 10,71,861 hectares under the List of Wetlands of International Importance which includes 4 new sites designated during FY 2020-2021. Presently, India stands first in South Asia and third in Asia in terms of number of designated sites.
RAMSAR SITES OF INDIA
Name of Wetland: Kolleru Lake
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 16°37’N 081°12’E
Area (hectares): 90100
Name of Wetland: Deepor Beel
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 26°07’N 091°39’E
Area (hectares): 4000
Name of Wetland: Kabartal Wetland
Date of Designation: 21-07-2020
Co-ordinates: 25°37’N 086°08’E
Area (hectares): 2620
Name of Wetland: Nalsarovar
Date of Designation: 24-09-2012
Co-ordinates: 22°46’N 072°02’E
Area (hectares): 12000
Name of Wetland: Chandertal Wetland
Date of Designation: 08-11-2005
Co-ordinates: 32°28’N 077°36’E
Area (hectares): 49
Name of Wetland: Pong Dam Lake
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 32°01’N 076°04’E
Area (hectares): 15662
Name of Wetland: Renuka Wetland
Date of Designation: 08-11-2005
Co-ordinates: 31°37’N 077°27’E
Area (hectares): 20
Name of Wetland: Hokera Wetland
Date of Designation: 08-11-2005
Co-ordinates: 34°04’N 074°42’E
Area (hectares): 1375
Name of Wetland: Surinsar-Mansar Lakes
Date of Designation: 08-11-2005
Co-ordinates: 32°45’N 075°12’E
Area (hectares): 350
Name of Wetland: Wular Lake
Date of Designation: 23-03-1990
Co-ordinates: 34°16’N 074°33’E
Area (hectares): 18900
Name of Wetland: Asthamudi Wetland
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 08°57’N 076°34’E
Area (hectares): 6140
Name of Wetland: Sasthamkotta Lake
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 09°01’N 076°37’E
Area (hectares): 373
Name of Wetland: VembanadKol Wetland
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 09°49’N 076°45’E
Area (hectares): 151250
Name of Wetland: Tsomoriri Lake
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 32°54’N 078°18’E
Area (hectares): 12000
Name of Wetland: Bhoj Wetlands
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 23°13’N 077°19’E
Area (hectares): 3201
Name of Wetland: Lonar Lake
Date of Designation: 22-07-2020
Co-ordinates: 19°58’N 076°30’E
Area (hectares): 427
Name of Wetland: NandurMadhameshwar
Date of Designation: 21-06-2019
Co-ordinates: 20°01’N 074°06’E
Area (hectares): 1437
Name of Wetland: Loktak Lake (MR)
Date of Designation: 23-03-1990
Co-ordinates: 24°25’N 093°49’E
Area (hectares): 26600
Name of Wetland: Bhitarkanika Mangroves
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 20°39’N 086°54’E
Area (hectares): 65000
Name of Wetland: Chilka Lake
Date of Designation: 01-10-1981
Co-ordinates: 19°42’N 085°21’E
Area (hectares): 116500
Name of Wetland: Beas Conservation Reserve
Date of Designation: 26-09-2019
Co-ordinates: 31°23’N 075°11’E
Area (hectares): 6429
Name of Wetland: Harike Lake
Date of Designation: 23-03-1990
Co-ordinates: 31°13’N 075°12’E
Area (hectares): 4100
Name of Wetland: Kanjli Lake
Date of Designation: 22-01-2002
Co-ordinates: 31°25’N 075°22’E
Area (hectares): 183
Name of Wetland: Keshopur – Miani Community Reserve
Date of Designation: 26-09-2019
Co-ordinates: 32°05’N 075°23’E
Area (hectares): 344
Name of Wetland: Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary
Date of Designation: 26-09-2019
Co-ordinates: 31°23’N 076°22’E
Area (hectares): 116
Name of Wetland: Ropar Lake
Date of Designation: 22-01-2002
Co-ordinates: 31°01’N 076°30’E
Area (hectares): 1365
Name of Wetland: Keoladeo Ghana National Park (MR)
Date of Designation: 1-10-1981
Co-ordinates: 27°13’N 077°31’E
Area (hectares): 2873
Name of Wetland: Sambhar Lake
Date of Designation: 23-03-1990
Co-ordinates: 27°00’N 075°00’E
Area (hectares): 24000
Name of Wetland: Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 10°19’N 079°37’E
Area (hectares): 38500
Name of Wetland: Rudrasagar Lake
Date of Designation: 08-11-2005
Co-ordinates: 23°28’N 091°16’E
Area (hectares): 240
Name of Wetland: Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
Date of Designation: 19-09-2019
Co-ordinates: 26°36’N 080°39’E
Area (hectares): 225
Name of Wetland: Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
Date of Designation: 02-12-2019
Co-ordinates: 26°56’N 082°09’E
Area (hectares): 722
Name of Wetland: Saman Bird Sanctuary
Date of Designation: 02-12-2019
Co-ordinates: 27°00’N 079°10’E
Area (hectares): 526
Name of Wetland: Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
Date of Designation: 03-10-2019
Co-ordinates: 25°59’N 081°23’E
Area (hectares): 799
Name of Wetland: Sandi Bird Sanctuary
Date of Designation: 26-09-2019
Co-ordinates: 27°18’N 079°58’E
Area (hectares): 309
Name of Wetland: Sarsai NawarJheel
Date of Designation: 19-09-2019
Co-ordinates: °58’N 079°15’E
Area (hectares): 161
Name of Wetland: Sur Sarovar
Date of Designation: 21-08-2020
Co-ordinates: 27°15’N 077°50’E
Area (hectares): 431
Name of Wetland: Upper Ganga River
Date of Designation: 08-11-2005
Co-ordinates: 28°33’N 078°12’E
Area (hectares): 26590
Name of Wetland: Asan Conservation Reserve
Date of Designation: 21-07-2020
Co-ordinates: 30°26’N 077°40’E
Area (hectares): 444
Name of Wetland: East Calcutta Wetlands
Date of Designation: 19-08-2002
Co-ordinates: 22°27’N 088°27’E
Area (hectares): 12500
Name of Wetland: Sunderbans Wetland
Date of Designation: 30-01-2019
Co-ordinates: 21°46’N 088°42’E
Area (hectares): 423000
States & UTs: 19
Ramsar Sites: 41
Area: 1071861 hectares
