World Wetlands Day

Why in News?

India announced new Ramsar sites on World Wetlands Day recently.

World Wetlands Day, 2025

February 2 is annually marked as World Wetlands Day.
Aim - To spread awareness about conserving one of the most critical ecosystems on the planet.
Theme, 2025 - “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”.
Wetlands - Wetlands are regions covered by water either perennially or seasonally, such as marshes and lakes.
They are vital reservoirs of biodiversity, aid water conservation and provide habitat for numerous migratory birds, aquatic species, and plant life.
They also help recharge groundwater, control floods and support fisheries and local communities.
From the point of view of climate change mitigation, wetlands are important carbon sinks, absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they release.

Ramsar Convention

Ramsar Convention is an international treaty that aims to conserve wetlands and their resources.
It was the first modern treaty between nations to conserve natural resources
It was signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar and came into force in 1975.

Wetland Definition

These sites receive international support for conservation and management.
Pillars - Provides a framework for national action and international cooperation
Protects sites of global importance
Ensures the sustainable use and conservation of wetlands
Main bodies of the Ramsar Convention - The Conference of the Parties (COP) and Standing Committee.
There are currently over 2,400 Ramsar Sites around the world.
Ramsar sites in India - India has 89 Ramsar sites. Tamil Nadu has the most Ramsar sites at 20.
India recently announced 4 new Ramsar sites under the global agreement Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Reference

The Indian Express | World Wetlands Day