Ramsar Wetland Sites in India is one of the most important topics from Environment and Ecology. Several Questions are asked in various exams from this particular topic. In this article, we have discussed the meaning of Ramsar Sites, their location in India, and the Montreux Record.

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Ramsar Sites

• At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party undertakes to designate at least one wet- land site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
• There are over 2,300 Ramsar Sites on the territories of 170 Ramsar Contracting Parties across the world.
• The countries with the most Sites are the United Kingdom with 170 and Mexico with 142.
• Bolivia has the largest area under Ramsar protection.

Ramsar Sites in India

• As of February 2019, there are 27 Ramsar Sites in India.
• Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Punjab have three wetlands each.
• West Bengal, Orissa and Rajasthan have two wetlands each.
• Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur Jammu & Kashmir have one wetland each.

List of Ramsar sites in India

Ramsar Sites of India	Location
Asan Conservation Reserve	Uttarakhand
Ashtamudi Wetland	Kerala
Beas Conservation Reserve	Punjab
Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Odisha
Bhoj Wetlands	Madhya Pradesh
Chandra Taal	Himachal Pradesh
Chilika Lake	Odisha
Deepor Beel	Assam
East Kolkata Wetlands	West Bengal
Harike Wetlands	Punjab
Hokera Wetland	Jammu and Kashmir
Kabartal Wetland	Bihar
Kanjli Wetland	Punjab
Keoladeo Ghana National Park	Rajasthan
Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve	Punjab
Kolleru Lake	Andhra Pradesh
Loktak Lake	Manipur
Lonar Lake	Maharashtra
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary	Gujarat
Nandur Madhameshwar	Maharashtra
Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary	Punjab
Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu
Pong Dam Lake	Himachal Pradesh
Renuka Lake	Himachal Pradesh
Ropar Wetland	Punjab
Rudrasagar Lake	Tripura
Saman Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Samaspur Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan
Sandi Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Sarsai Nawar Jheel	Uttar Pradesh
Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala
Sunderbans Wetland	West Bengal
Surinsar- Mansar Lakes	Jammu and Kashmir
Sur Sarovar	Uttar Pradesh
Tsomoriri	Jammu and Kashmir
Tso Kar	Ladakh
Upper Ganga River	Uttar Pradesh
Vembanad Kol Wetland	Kerala
Wular Lake	Jammu and Kashmir
Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary	Haryana
Sultanpur National Park	Haryana
Thol lake wildlife sanctuary	Gujarat
Wadhvana Wetland.	Gujarat

The Montreux Record

• The Montreux Record 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.

Question. If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply? (UPSC CSE Prelims 2015)

A. Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference.

B. The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any human activity within five kilometers from the edge of the wetland

C. The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity, and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed

D. It is given the status of ‘World Heritage Site’

Answer: A)

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