Ramsar Sites
Ramsar Sites
Why In News:
India has designated its 100th Ramsar Site: Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, a wetland located in the Ganga Basin.
What is the Ramsar Convention?
Full Name: The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat. It is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
Adopted: Signed in 1971 in the city of Ramsar, Iran, and came into force in 1975. India became a party in 1982.
Montreux Record: A register of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred or
are likely to occur. India's Keoladeo
(Rajasthan) and Loktak (Manipur) have featured on this record.
Key Facts for Prelims:
India has the largest network of Ramsar Sites in Asia, and is among the top countries globally.
Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar sites among Indian states.
Wetland authority: Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 govern wetland protection in India, administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
World Wetlands Day is observed on 2 February each year, marking the adoption of the Ramsar Convention.
Wetlands provide ecosystem services: groundwater recharge, flood control, carbon sequestration, biodiversity support and livelihood security.