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Important Wetlands| 89 Ramsar Sites In India

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Know about Ramsar Sites

  • Wetlands of international importance are known as Ramsar Sites.
  • Ramsar Convention: The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
  • It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the Caspian sea, where the treaty was signed on 2 February 1971.
  • Known officially as ‘the wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat’ (or, more recently, just ‘the Convention on Wetlands’), it came into force in 1975.
  • Number of Contracting Parties: 171
  • 89 sites in India are protected by the Ramsar convention.

New Ramsar Sites in India 2025

  • On February 2, 2025, four new sites were added to the list, taking the total Ramsar sites in India to 89.
  • The new Ramsar sites are:
  • Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
  • Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
  • Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim)
  • Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand)

With this, India became the country with the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia and the third-highest globally, after the United Kingdom (176) and Mexico (144). Now, India has a total of 1301 wetlands, which include 89 Ramsar Wetlands and 114 Significant Wetlands.

List of 89 Ramsar Sites In India

S.No.Ramsar SiteStateYear
1Kolleru LakeAndhra Pradesh2002
2Deepor BeelAssam2002
3Kanwar (Kabar) TaalBihar2020
4Nanda LakeGoa2022
5Khijadia WLSGujarat2021
6Nalsarovar BSGujarat2012
7Thol LakeGujarat2021
8Wadhvana WetlandGujarat2021
9Bhindawas WLSHaryana2021
10Sultanpur NPHaryana2021
11Chandra TaalHimachal Pradesh2005
12Pong Dam LakeHimachal Pradesh2002
13Renuka LakeHimachal Pradesh2005
14Ranganathituu BSKarnataka2022
15Magadi Kere Conservation ReserveKarnataka2024
16Ankasamudra Bird Conservation ReserveKarnataka2024
17Aghanashini EstuaryKarnataka2024
18Ashtamudi WetlandKerala2002
19Sasthamkotta LakeKerala2002
20Vembanad-Kol Wetland (Longest Lake in India)Kerala1905
21Bhoj WetlandMadhya Pradesh2002
22Sakhya SagarMadhya Pradesh2022
23Sirpur wetlandMadhya Pradesh2022
24Yashwant SagarMadhya Pradesh2022
25Lonar Lake (Impact Crater Lake)Maharashtra2020
26Nandur MadhameshwarMaharashtra2019
27Thane CreekMaharashtra2022
28Loktak LakeManipur1990
29Pala WetlandMizoram2021
30Ansupa LakeOdisha2021
31Bhitarkanika MangrovesOdisha2002
32Chilika Lake (Oldest Ramsar Site in India)Odisha1981
33Hirakud ReservoirOdisha2021
34Satkosia GorgeOdisha2021
35Tampara LakeOdisha2021
36Beas CnRPunjab2019
37Harike WetlandPunjab1990
38Kanjli WetlandPunjab2002
39Keshopur-Miani CmRPunjab2019
40Nangal WLSPunjab2019
41Ropar WetlandPunjab2002
42Keoladeo National ParkRajasthan1981
43Sambhar LakeRajasthan1990
44Chitrangudi BSTamil Nadu2021
45Gulf of Mannar Marine BRTamil Nadu2022
46Kanjirankulam BSTamil Nadu2022
47Karikili BSTamil Nadu2022
48Koonthankulam BSTamil Nadu2021
49Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve ForestTamil Nadu2022
50Pichavaram MangroveTamil Nadu2022
51Point Calimere WLS & BSTamil Nadu2002
52Suchindram Theroor Wetland ComplexTamil Nadu2022
53Udhayamarthandapuram BSTamil Nadu2022
54Vaduvur BSTamil Nadu2022
55Vedanthangal BSTamil Nadu2022
56Vellode BSTamil Nadu2022
57Vembannur Wetland ComplexTamil Nadu2022
58Karaivetti Bird SanctuaryTamil Nadu2024
59Longwood Shola Reserve ForestTamil Nadu2024
60Rudrasagar LakeTripura2005
61Hokera WetlandUT of JK2005
62Hygam Wetland CnRUT of JK2022
63Shallbugh Wetland CnRUT of JK2022
64Surinsar-Mansar LakesUT of JK2005
65Wular LakeUT of JK1990
66Tso Kar (High Altitude Ramsar Site)UT of Ladakh2020
67Tsomoriri (High Altitude Ramsar Site)UT of Ladakh2002
68Bakhira WLSUttar Pradesh2021
69Haiderpur WetlandUttar Pradesh2021
70Nawabganj BSUttar Pradesh2019
71Parvati Arga BSUttar Pradesh2019
72Saman BSUttar Pradesh2019
73Samaspur BSUttar Pradesh2019
74Sandi BSUttar Pradesh2019
75Sarsai Nawar JheelUttar Pradesh2019
76Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake)Uttar Pradesh2020
77Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora)Uttar Pradesh2005
78Asan BarrageUttarakhand2020
79East Kolkata WetlandsWest Bengal2002
80Sundarban Wetland (Largest Ramsar Site in India)West Bengal2019
81Nagi Bird SanctuaryBihar2024
82Nakti Bird SanctuaryBihar2024
83Kazhuveli Bird SanctuaryTamil Nadu2024
84Nanjarayan Bird SanctuaryTamil Nadu2024
85Tawa ReservoirMadhya Pradesh2024
86Therthangal Bird SanctuaryTamil Nadu2025
87Sakkarakottai Bird SanctuaryTamil Nadu2025
88Khecheopalri WetlandSikkim2025
89Udhwa LakeJharkhand2025

Important facts on Ramsar sites in India :

  • Largest Ramsar sites in India: Sundarban
  • Area wise : ( Sundarban > Vembanad > Chilka >….>Renuka)
  • Smallest Ramsar Sites in India: Renuka Wetland
  • Oldest Ramsar sites in India: Chilka Lake(1981), Keoladeo Ghana NP(1981).
  • Total number of Ramsar sites in India: 89.
  • Which Indian state has the most number of Ramsar Sites? Answer: Tamilnadu (20) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10).
  • Number of wetlands under Montreux Record: 2.

Montreux Record

Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution, or other human interference.

  • It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
  • The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990).
  • Sites may be added to and removed from the Record only with the approval of the Contracting Parties in which they lie.
  • Currently, two wetlands of India are in Montreux record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
  • Chilka lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but was later removed from it.

Definition of Wetlands

Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally.

The Ramsar Convention definition for wetlands includes marshes, floodplains, rivers and lakes, mangroves, coral reefs and other marine areas no deeper than 6 metres at low tide, as well as human-made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs.

According to The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules of 2017, the Indian government’s definition of wetlands does not include river channels, paddy fields, or other areas utilized for commercial activities.

Wetlands, according to the Environment Ministry, are an “area of marsh, fen, peatland or water; whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres, but does not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/ tanks specifically constructed for drinking water purposes and structures specifically constructed for aquaculture, salt production, recreation and irrigation purposes.”

  • Wetlands are regulated under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
  • The 2010 version of the Rules provided for a Central Wetland Regulatory Authority; the 2017 Rules replace it with state-level bodies and created a National Wetland Committee, which functions in an advisory role.
  • The newer regulations removed some items from the definition of “wetlands” including backwaters, lagoons, creeks, and estuaries.
  • India has 19 types of wetlands whereas Gujarat has the maximum area followed by Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Wetland Day

  • Wetland day: on February 2 each year
    • To raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet
    •  To mark the day of the convention on wetlands was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971.
  • India is a party to the convention since 1981.
  • India ratified the Ramsar Convention on the 1st of February, 1982.
  • It emphasizes the importance of wetlands as a “source of freshwater and encourages action to restore them and stop their loss”.
Wetlands

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