In News:

World Wetlands Day is observed every year on 2nd February to commemorate the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.

India has been a signatory to the Convention since 1982 and has actively worked towards the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands—critical ecosystems that serve as biodiversity hotspots, natural flood buffers, and carbon sinks.

Theme 2025: "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future"

The 2025 theme emphasizes collaborative efforts to protect wetlands to ensure ecological sustainability, biodiversity preservation, and long-term human well-being. It highlights the need for integrated management and foresight in conservation strategies.

Key Event: Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, Gonda, Uttar Pradesh

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organized the national-level celebrations of World Wetlands Day 2025 at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site in Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh.

Significance of the Site

• Comprises two rain-fed oxbow lakes—Parvati and Arga—located in the terai region of the Gangetic plains.
• Supports endangered and critically endangered species like the white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, and Egyptian vulture.
• Attracts migratory birds such as Eurasian coots, greylag geese, northern pintails, and red-crested pochards.
• Threatened by invasive species, notably the common water hyacinth.
• The nearby Tikri Forest is being developed as an eco-tourism site, and a nature-culture tourism corridor is planned between Ayodhya and Devi Patan.

Cultural and Economic Value

• The area includes heritage sites such as the birthplaces of Maharishi Patanjali and Goswami Tulsidas, enhancing its potential as a religious and cultural tourism hub.
• A MoU between Amazon and ARGA (UP Government initiative) aims to empower women entrepreneurs through digital training and market access under Amazon’s Saheli programme.

India's Wetland Landscape and New Ramsar Sites (2025 Update)

India’s tally of Ramsar Sites has risen to 89, with four new additions:

1. Udhwa Lake – Jharkhand (first Ramsar site for the state)
2. Theerthangal – Tamil Nadu
3. Sakkarakottai – Tamil Nadu
4. Khecheopalri – Sikkim (first Ramsar site for the state)

• Tamil Nadu leads with 20 Ramsar Sites, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10 sites.
• Total area under Ramsar protection in India is now approximately 1.358 million hectares.

Amrit Dharohar Initiative

Launched in June 2023, the Amrit Dharohar initiative promotes conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar Sites over three years. It aligns with Budget 2023–24 announcements and focuses on:

1. Species and Habitat Conservation
2. Nature Tourism
3. Wetlands-based Livelihoods
4. Wetlands and Carbon Mitigation

The initiative encourages convergence among central ministries, state authorities, and community stakeholders.

Workshops and Public Engagement

A regional workshop for Northern States was organized on 1st February 2025, with participants from nine states and UTs, highlighting collaborative models in wetland management. The main event also included:

• Exhibitions on eco-friendly products, wetland conservation, and green skills.
• Launch of publications like the Integrated Management Plan for Parvati Arga, Factbook of India’s 85 Ramsar Sites, and Development of Van Taungya Villages.
• Felicitation of painting, quiz, and Nukkad Natak competition winners, promoting grassroots awareness.

Significance of Wetlands in India

Wetlands are water-covered ecosystems, either permanently or seasonally flooded. They:

• Support rich biodiversity, including migratory birds and aquatic species.
• Recharge groundwater and regulate floods.
• Provide livelihoods through fisheries and tourism.
• Act as natural carbon sinks, aiding in climate change mitigation.

Major Threats

• Pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
• Encroachment and urbanization
• Invasive species