- World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February.
- This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
- The Standing Committee of the Convention has approved the themes for World Wetlands Day as follows:
- 2025: Protecting wetlands for our common future
- 2026: Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage
- 2027: Wetlands for sustainable cities
- India became a signatory to the convention on 1st February 1982.
- India now leads Asia in the number of Ramsar sites with 98 wetlands of international importance.
About the Ramsar List
Genesis
- Established under the Convention on Wetlands, adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran
- The Convention on Wetlands provides the single most global framework for intergovernmental cooperation on wetland issues.
Membership
- Nearly 90% of UN member states, including India, are Contracting Parties.
- At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party must designate at least one wetland site within their territory for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”).
Significance
- The inclusion of a wetland in the List embodies the government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.
- The Convention includes various measures to respond to threats to the ecological character of Sites.
- Ramsar designation provides international recognition
- Strengthens protection at the national level
- Emphasises sustainable use of wetlands rather than exclusionary conservation
Criteria
- The Wetland must meet at least one of nine specific criteria related to biodiversity, hydrology, or species support to be designated a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) under the Ramsar Convention. These criteria, developed by the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention)
Montreux Record in India
- The Montreux Record is a register under the Ramsar Convention for Ramsar sites facing significant ecological changes due to pollution, technology, or human interference.
- It identifies priority sites for conservation, often enabling international assistance.
- In India, two sites are currently on this record:
- Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and
- Loktak Lake (Manipur).