The Sukhna Wetland is situated in the northeast corner of Chandigarh at latitude 30°44\'31.8\" N and longitude 76°48\'48.6\" E, extending to latitude 30°48\'19.8\" N and longitude 76°52\'43.5\" E. This wetland is a dynamic system with seasonal fluctuations in water spread. It is delineated to encompass the ecologically functional landscape that contributes to and sustains the wetland’s ecological integrity, hydrological processes and biodiversity values.The wetland is surrounded by Kaimbwala village and Nature Trail of Lake Reserve Forest on the northern side, forest plantation and agricultural fields of the village Suktetri on the east, boat club, cafeteria, part of bandh on the west and major part of bandh and Sukhna barrage in the South. The total catchment area of the wetland is spread across 10395.72 acres out of which 7185.824 acres is the Catchment Area/Zone of Influence of Sukhna Lake falling within the boundary limit of UT Chandigarh, 684.482 acres is the Catchment Area/Zone of Influence of Sukhna Lake falling within the boundary limit of Punjab and 2525.417 acres is the Catchment Area/Zone of Influence of Sukhna Lake falling within the boundary limit of Haryana.

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.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.

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.

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.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

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.

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.

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.

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.