Wetlands, Ramsar Sites & Water Bodies in India
Category:GS-3 (Environment, Biodiversity, Conservation), GS-1 (Geography, Ecology), Prelims & Essay
1. What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are ecologically unique transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems where the land is permanently or seasonally saturated with water. These include swamps, marshes, bogs, floodplains, peatlands, and estuaries.
Classification (based on hydrology, salinity & origin):
- Inland Wetlands: Lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, bogs, floodplains.
- Coastal Wetlands: Estuaries, mangroves, salt marshes, tidal flats, coral reefs, lagoons.
- Human-made Wetlands: Reservoirs, aquaculture ponds, salt pans, rice paddies.
Functional Characteristics:
- High biodiversity and productivity
- Natural water filtration and purification
- Flood control and groundwater recharge
- Critical habitats for migratory and endangered species
2. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- Adopted: 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; came into force 1975.
- India joined: 1982
- Mission: Conservation and wise use of wetlands through local, regional, national & international cooperation.
- Three Pillars:
- Designation of wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites)
- Promotion of wise use
- International cooperation on transboundary wetlands
Ramsar Criteria for Site DesignationIncludes uniqueness, endangered species support, critical life cycles, biodiversity richness, and waterbird populations exceeding 20,000.
- Ecological uniqueness
- Support for rare/endangered species
- Critical for wetland species life cycles
- Hosts significant biodiversity
3. Ramsar Sites in India: Status & Key Facts
- Total Sites: 91 (as of June 2025) 🌍
- Largest Site: Sunderbans (West Bengal) – approx. 4,230 km²
- First Ramsar Sites (1981): Chilika Lake (Odisha), Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
- State with Most Sites: Tamil Nadu (20) — highest in India
- Recent Additions (2024–25):
- Pallikaranai Marsh (TN), Sakhya Sagar (MP), Pala Wetland (Mizoram) — added July 2022 to October 2024
- Nagi & Nakti Bird Sanctuaries (Bihar), Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim), Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand) — added Feb 2, 2025
- Khichan (Phalodi) & Menar (Udaipur), Rajasthan — added June 5, 2025
Examples of Important Ramsar Sites (UPSC Focus)
| Wetland | State | Type | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilika Lake | Odisha | Brackish Coastal Lagoon | Largest coastal lagoon; Irrawaddy dolphins; migratory birds |
| Keoladeo Ghana NP | Rajasthan | Freshwater, Man-made | UNESCO site; migratory birds including Siberian crane |
| Loktak Lake | Manipur | Freshwater lake | Floating phumdis; habitat of endangered Sangai deer |
| Sunderbans | West Bengal | Mangrove Forest | Largest mangrove forest; UNESCO site; Royal Bengal Tiger |
| Deepor Beel | Assam | Freshwater Floodplain | Part of Brahmaputra floodplain; elephants and fishing |
4. Legal Framework for Wetland Conservation in India
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Parent legislation for wetland protection rules.
- Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017: Updated framework replacing 2010 Rules.
- Delegates wetland identification to States.
- Prohibits reclamation, encroachment, industrial setup, and waste dumping.
- Creates State Wetland Authorities for governance.
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Protection if wetland falls within sanctuary or national park.
- Forest Rights Act, 2006: Recognition of forest-dwelling communities’ rights on wetlands.
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: Regulates pollution in water bodies.
5. National-Level Initiatives & Schemes
- National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) by ISRO uses satellite imagery for wetland mapping.
- National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) integrates conservation of lakes and wetlands.
- Wetlands Portal: https://indianwetlands.in
- Amrit Dharohar Scheme (2023-24 Budget) promotes eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation in Ramsar Sites.
- Mission LiFE: Encourages conservation through sustainable lifestyle and behaviour change.
6. Ecological & Socio-Economic Importance
- Home to nearly 40% of global species, despite covering only ~6% of Earth's surface.
- Carbon sinks: Peatlands and mangroves capture and store significant amounts of carbon.
- Flood control and groundwater recharge help mitigate natural disasters.
- Support livelihoods like fisheries, agriculture, tourism, and traditional crafts.
- Climate regulation and microclimate balance.
- Natural filtration improves water quality.
7. Major Threats to Wetlands
- Urbanization and Encroachment: Wetlands drained or filled for development (e.g., Pallikaranai Marsh, Chennai).
- Pollution: Sewage, plastics, industrial effluents, and agrochemicals.
- Invasive Species: Water hyacinth, Prosopis juliflora degrade ecosystems.
- Climate Change: Sea level rise, glacier melting, altered monsoon impacting wetlands.
- Poor Governance: Overlapping jurisdiction, weak law enforcement.
8. Challenges & Recommendations
- Only 2% wetlands protected officially.
- State authorities often under-resourced and lack capacity.
- Fragmented and outdated wetland data hinders planning.
- Promote community involvement and traditional knowledge.
- Leverage technology like remote sensing for monitoring.
- Integrate multi-sector coordination across environment, water, and urban departments.
9. Wetlands & Water Bodies in UPSC Exams
- GS-1: Geographical distribution, ecological regions, cultural significance.
- GS-3: Conservation policies, Ramsar Convention, Biodiversity laws, pollution control.
- Essay: Topics like “Wetlands: Earth’s Kidneys,” “Balancing Development & Conservation,” “Wetlands & Climate Change.”
- Prelims: Ramsar site identification, scheme names (Amrit Dharohar), wetland types, wetland rules.
