---
title: "Ramsar Convention — 1971 Iran, Wetlands of International Importance & India’s Sites"
url: https://anantamias.com/ramsar-convention/
date: 2026-04-16
modified: 2026-04-21
author: "Rahul Puri"
description: "UPSC guide to the Ramsar Convention — 1971 Iran, Wetlands of International Importance, India's 85+ Ramsar sites, Montreux Record, and World Wetlands Day."
categories:
  - "Study Notes"
tags:
  - "Ramsar Site"
  - "UPSC"
image: https://r2.anantamias.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ramsar-convention-1-1024x576.jpg
word_count: 1300
---

# Ramsar Convention — 1971 Iran, Wetlands of International Importance & India’s Sites

The **[Ramsar Convention](/current-affairs/ramsar-convention/)** is the **oldest modern multilateral environmental agreement** and the only global treaty dedicated to a single ecosystem — **wetlands**. Signed in the Iranian city of **Ramsar on 2 February 1971**, the Convention establishes a framework for **national action and international cooperation** for the **conservation and wise use** of wetlands and their resources. India became a contracting party in **1982** and today hosts **over 85 Ramsar sites** — the largest number in Asia. For **UPSC Prelims** and **GS Paper III (Environment)**, Ramsar is a recurring, high-yield topic.

## Historical Background

![Ramsar Convention — 1971 Iran, Wetlands of International Importance & India](https://r2.anantamias.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ramsar-convention-content-1.jpg)

### Why Wetlands Needed a Treaty

By the 1960s, more than **60% of wetlands in Europe and North America** had been lost to drainage, agriculture, urbanisation and industry. Migratory waterbirds — which depended on chains of wetlands — were in sharp decline. Scientists from **IUCN, IWRB (International Waterfowl Research Bureau) and ICBP** began negotiations in 1962 to create a binding treaty.

### Signing at Ramsar, Iran

![Ramsar Convention — 1971 Iran, Wetlands of International Importance & India](https://r2.anantamias.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ramsar-convention-content-2.jpg)

- Date: **2 February 1971**

- Venue: **Ramsar, a city on the shore of the Caspian Sea, Iran**

- Entry into force: **21 December 1975** (after 7 ratifications)

- Depositary: **UNESCO Director-General**

- Secretariat: **Gland, Switzerland** (hosted by IUCN)

As of 2025, the Convention has **172 contracting parties** and over **2,500 designated sites** covering more than **256 million hectares** globally.

## Definition of Wetlands — A Broad Scope

Article 1 of the Convention defines wetlands very broadly:

> *"Areas 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."*

This definition includes:

| Category | Examples |
| -------- | -------- |
| **Marine/coastal** | Estuaries, coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, lagoons |
| **Inland** | Rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, peatlands, oases, springs |
| **Human-made** | Reservoirs, salt pans, aquaculture ponds, canals, rice paddies |

The **six-meter depth rule** for marine waters is a crucial prelims fact.

## The Three Pillars of the Convention

The Ramsar Convention rests on three main commitments by contracting parties:

### Pillar 1: Designation of Ramsar Sites

Each party must designate at least **one wetland** to the **List of Wetlands of International Importance** (the Ramsar List) at the time of accession.

### Pillar 2: Wise Use of All Wetlands

Parties must promote the **"wise use"** — defined as *"maintenance of ecological character, achieved through implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development"* — of **all wetlands** in their territory, not just designated sites.

### Pillar 3: International Cooperation

Parties must cooperate on **transboundary wetlands**, shared species, and development assistance for wetland conservation.

## Criteria for Designation as a Ramsar Site

A wetland qualifies if it meets **at least one of nine criteria** grouped into two categories.

### Group A — Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types

**Criterion 1**: Contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.

### Group B — Sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity

| Criterion | Description |
| --------- | ----------- |
| **2** | Supports **vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered species** or threatened ecological communities |
| **3** | Supports populations of plant and animal species important for maintaining biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region |
| **4** | Supports species at a **critical stage of their life cycle** or provides refuge during adverse conditions |
| **5** | Regularly supports **20,000 or more waterbirds** |
| **6** | Regularly supports **1% of the individuals** in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird |
| **7** | Supports a significant proportion of indigenous **fish species** or life-history stages |
| **8** | Important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery, or migration path on which fish stocks depend |
| **9** | Regularly supports **1% of a non-avian animal species** (reptiles, amphibians, mammals) |

## India and the Ramsar Convention

### India's Accession

- **Signed**: 1 February 1982

- **Became a contracting party**: 1 October 1982

- **First Ramsar sites (1981 designation, effective 1982)**: **Chilika Lake (Odisha)** and **Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)**

### Growth of India's Ramsar Network

| Year | Sites | Milestone |
| ---- | ----- | --------- |
| **1982** | 2 | Chilika, Keoladeo designated |
| **2020** | 37 | — |
| **2022** | 75 | At India@75; largest in Asia |
| **2024** | 85+ | India leads Asia in Ramsar sites |

As of 2025, India has **over 85 Ramsar sites**, covering more than **1.35 million hectares**. **Tamil Nadu** has the highest number of Ramsar sites among Indian states.

### Selected Ramsar Sites in India

| Site | State | Highlights |
| ---- | ----- | ---------- |
| **Chilika Lake** | Odisha | Largest brackish water lagoon in Asia; migratory birds; Irrawaddy dolphins |
| **Keoladeo National Park** | Rajasthan | Former duck shooting reserve of Bharatpur Maharajas |
| **Wular Lake** | J&K | Largest freshwater lake in India |
| **Loktak Lake** | Manipur | Unique **phumdis** (floating vegetation); Keibul Lamjao (world's only floating NP) |
| **Sundarbans Wetland** | West Bengal | Mangroves, Bengal tiger, estuarine crocodile |
| **Sambhar Lake** | Rajasthan | Largest inland saline lake; flamingo habitat |
| **Point Calimere** | Tamil Nadu | Coastal wetland; flamingo wintering ground |
| **Deepor Beel** | Assam | Brahmaputra floodplain wetland |
| **Tso Moriri, Tso Kar** | Ladakh | High-altitude (4,500+ m) wetlands; black-necked crane |
| **Nal Sarovar** | Gujarat | Large inland wetland; pelicans, flamingos |

## The Montreux Record

The **Montreux Record** is a subset of the Ramsar List — wetlands where **ecological character has changed, is changing or is likely to change** due to human interference, pollution or other threats. Inclusion is meant to mobilise resources for restoration.

### Indian Wetlands on the Montreux Record

| Wetland | Status |
| ------- | ------ |
| **Chilika Lake** | Earlier added; **removed in 2002** after successful restoration (removal of sediment, opening of new mouth) — only Asian wetland to be delisted |
| **Keoladeo National Park** | **Currently on Montreux Record** due to water shortages and invasive species |
| **Loktak Lake** | **Currently on Montreux Record** due to Ithai barrage impacts and phumdi degradation |

Chilika's delisting is considered one of the **greatest success stories** of the Ramsar Convention globally.

## Legal and Institutional Framework in India

### Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017

Notified under the **Environment (Protection) Act, 1986**, these rules:

- Define regulated and permitted activities

- Mandate a **State Wetland Authority** in each state

- Prohibit **reclamation, solid waste dumping, construction** on notified wetlands

- Replace the earlier 2010 rules

### National Wetland Conservation Programme

Initiated in 1985–86; merged with **National Lake Conservation Plan** in 2013 to form the **National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)**.

### Space Applications Centre — ISRO

Published the **National Wetland Atlas (2011, 2021 editions)** mapping **over 2 lakh wetlands** in India.

## World Wetlands Day — 2 February

Every year, **2 February** is celebrated globally as **World Wetlands Day**, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Ramsar Convention at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. Annual themes draw attention to specific threats:

| Recent Themes |
| ------------- |
| 2022: *Wetlands Action for People and Nature* |
| 2023: *It's Time for Wetland Restoration* |
| 2024: *Wetlands and Human Wellbeing* |
| 2025: *Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future* |

## Ecosystem Services of Wetlands

Wetlands are among the **most productive ecosystems on Earth**. Their services include:

| Service | Example |
| ------- | ------- |
| **Water regulation** | Flood control, groundwater recharge |
| **Water purification** | Sediment trapping, nutrient cycling |
| **Carbon sequestration** | Peatlands store 30% of global soil carbon |
| **Biodiversity** | 40% of world's species use wetlands |
| **Fisheries** | Source of livelihoods for millions |
| **Climate regulation** | Moderate local climate |
| **Cultural value** | Sacred sites, tourism |

## Threats to Wetlands

- **Land conversion** — agriculture, real estate, industry

- **Pollution** — sewage, agricultural run-off, industrial effluents

- **Invasive species** — [water hyacinth](/current-affairs/water-hyacinth-an-invasive-species/) in Loktak, Chilika

- **Sedimentation** due to deforestation in catchments

- **[Climate change](/climate-change/)** — altered hydrology, sea-level rise

- **Aquaculture expansion** — especially in coastal wetlands

- **Encroachment** — urban wetlands like Bellandur (Bengaluru), East Kolkata Wetlands under pressure

## UPSC Relevance

### GS Paper Mapping

- **GS Paper III** — Environment (biodiversity, conservation), Wetland ecosystems, Climate change

- **GS Paper II** — International treaties and institutions

- **Essay** — Environment and sustainable development

### Prelims Pointers

- **Signed**: Ramsar, **Iran**, **2 February 1971**

- **Entry into force**: **21 December 1975**

- **Secretariat**: **Gland, Switzerland**

- **Depositary**: **UNESCO**

- **World Wetlands Day**: **2 February**

- Wetland depth at low tide ≤ **6 metres**

- **India acceded**: **1 October 1982**

- **First Indian Ramsar sites**: **Chilika Lake** (Odisha) and **Keoladeo National Park** (Rajasthan)

- India has **85+ Ramsar sites** (largest in Asia)

- **Montreux Record** — sites with ecological change; **Keoladeo and Loktak** currently on it; **Chilika delisted in 2002**

- **Loktak Lake** — phumdis, Keibul Lamjao (world's only floating national park)

- **Wular Lake** — largest freshwater lake in India

- **Sambhar Lake** — largest inland saline lake

- Governed in India by **Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017** under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

- Nine criteria: **Criterion 5** — 20,000+ waterbirds; **Criterion 6** — 1% of waterbird population

- Related plan: **National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)**

The **Ramsar Convention** transformed wetlands from wasteland to **living infrastructure**. For India, with over 4.7% of its geographic area as wetlands, the treaty is a vital instrument for **water security, biodiversity and climate resilience**.