Four More Indian Sites get Ramsar Recognition

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• Four more Indian sites have been recognised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention taking the number of such sites in the country to 46.

New Ramsar Sites

1. Wadhwana Wetland (Gujarat) 

• It is located in a semi-arid agricultural landscape and it is surrounded by wheat and paddy fields and villages. 
• The wetland is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to migratory waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway. 
• The Site provides a global example of how a wetland originally created for irrigation has come to serve as an important waterbird habitat and hub for ecotourism and nature education.

2. Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (Gujarat)

• This shallow reservoir dominated by open water areas was originally constructed for irrigation in 1912. 
• In 1988, it was declared as a wildlife sanctuary to protect the birdlife found there: it is on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species can be found, making up some 57% of all the bird species of Gujarat. 
• More than 30 of the waterbirds are threatened, such as the critically endangered white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius), and the vulnerable sarus crane (Grus antigone), common pochard (Aythya farina) and lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus). 
• The Lake provides water for drinking and irrigation and enables groundwater recharge, and is also used for recreation and tourism. 

3. Sultanpur National Park (Haryana)

• In 2010, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change declared the area within five kilometres of the Park as an eco-sensitive zone. 
• The wetland harbours a rich plant and animal life: it supports more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life cycles. 
• More than ten of these are globally threatened, including the critically endangered sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius), and the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), saker falcon (Falco cherrug), Pallas’s fish eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) and black-bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda). 

4. Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary (Haryana)

• It is a human-made freshwater wetland and is the largest wetland in Haryana State. 
• The wetland was declared as a protected area in 1986 and was designated as an Eco-sensitive zone by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in 2011. 
• The Site supports more than ten globally threatened species including the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Pallas’s fish eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) and black-bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda). 

Wetlands in India

• Wetlands are regulated under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
• For the first time, two wetlands in Haryana – Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary in Jhajjar – have been included in the Ramsar list.

Significance of Wetlands

• Conserve Biodiversity: Wetlands play a vital role in conserving biodiversity, they purify and replenish groundwater. They also protect our coastlines and help fight climate change. In urban India, they work as critical carbon sinks.
• Ecosystem Services: Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation.
• Prevent Flooding: The wetlands serve as a natural sponge against flooding and drought. They play a role in preventing urban flooding as well.
• Home for wildlife: They offer the perfect place for animals to be safe and hidden from predators – perhaps from the air – as well as providing a lot of diverse foodstuffs such as grasses, mosses and other plant life.
• Erosion Control: Wetlands act as a sort of erosion control. Emergent – plants that are firmly rooted in the ground – grow almost exclusively in wetlands, and due to this, the flow of water slows down.

Challenges to Wetlands

• Declining Wetlands: According to estimates by Wetlands International South Asia, nearly 30 per cent of the natural wetlands in India have been lost in the last three decades mainly to illegal construction, unsustainable urbanisation, agricultural expansion and pollution.

• Unsustainable urbanisation:
  • Chennai lost 90 per cent of its wetlands to unplanned urbanisation, leaving the city to grapple with issues of water security and a degraded environment. 
  • Vadodara lost 30.5 per cent of its wetlands between 2005 and 2018. 
  • Hyderabad lost 55 per cent of its wetlands to inefficient waste management, rising pollution and unchecked urban development. 
  • Mumbai lost 71 per cent, Ahmedabad 57 per cent, Bengaluru 56 per cent, Pune 37 per cent and Delhi-National Capital Region lost 38 per cent wetlands mainly to construction and eutrophication from pollution. 
• Ignoring Urban Wetlands: The conservation efforts mostly centred on the notified Ramsar sites ignore several other urban wetlands that are equally important. 
• Lack of Awareness: In addition to urbanisation needs, lack of awareness and knowledge on wetlands and their ecosystem services can be blamed for this widespread loss.
• Exclusion of Local Communities: The existing laws completely ignore the participation of local communities in governing and monitoring wetlands.

India’s Initiatives for Conservation of Wetlands

• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) 
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is currently implementing this centrally sponsored scheme (60:40, 90:10 for the North Eastern States and 100% Central Govt. funded for UTs).
  • Aim: For conservation and management of identified wetlands in the country on a cost-sharing basis between the Central Government and respective State/ UT Governments.
  • The scheme covers various activities such as interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater, shoreline protection, lakefront development, & in-situ cleaning.
• World Wetlands Day (WWD)

• The MoEF&CC organises the National level celebration of World Wetlands Day (WWD) on 2nd February of each year in collaboration with the concerned State Governments.
• To raise awareness among all sections of the society about the values and functions of wetlands and the utilization of their resources. 

• Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017
  • The 2017 Rules replaced the Central Wetland Regulatory Authority with state-level bodies and created a National Wetland Committee, which functions in an advisory role.
  • These wetlands authority comprises ministers, officials and experts, in all states.
  • The newer regulations removed some items from the definition of “wetlands” including backwaters, lagoon, creeks, and estuaries.
• Wetlands Rejuvenation Programme 
  • The MoEFCC implemented this programme within the framework of transformative ideas of the Government of India i.e. “Start work on Restoration & Rejuvenation of at least 100 major wetlands across the country”. 
• Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM)
  • A dedicated centre has been set up under the MoEF&CC, at the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) in Chennai. 
  • It has multiple roles to play in the conservation of wetlands. 
  • It will address specific research needs and knowledge gaps to address wetlands and their management and bring capacity development and cutting-edge research to wetlands in India. 

Way Ahead

• Mainstreaming Policies: Mainstreaming wetlands ecosystem services and biodiversity into India’s developmental policies and urban planning processes, including climate change mitigation, is the pressing need of the hour. 
• More Information: There is also a need for more scientific data, imagery, maps and other relevant tools to provide knowledge on the status of wetlands. 
• Management in Urban Areas: Mega urban schemes like Smart Cities Mission and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation need to add the aspects of sustainable management of wetlands. As urbanisation is only likely to intensify, the country’s wetlands need to be safeguarded urgently. 
• Public Connection: The need is to enhance public connection with nature. Encouraging residents and stakeholders to play a role in the protection and improvement of the green-blue assets to develop community ownership. 
• Awareness & Participation: Awareness is the first step towards protection. Using local experiences and expertise, a robust policy can be drawn to transform the conditions of the wetlands in the country. 

Source: IE