The Ramsar Rush: Ambition, Achievement and the Unfinished Task

According to legend, Renuka Devi, wife of Maharishi Jamdagni, fled into a lake to escape the tyrant king Sahasrarjuna, following her husband's death. Her form is believed to have merged with the lake, which was later named Renuka Lake after her. Located in the foothills of the Western Himalayas, this 30-hectare lake supports 443 species across 26 faunistic groups. Designated a Ramsar site in 2005, it is India's smallest Ramsar wetland. India's network of Ramsar sites has since expanded from 26 to 103 between 2014 and October 2026, covering approximately 13.87 lakh hectares across 28 states and Union Territories.

The Convention

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, particularly as Waterfowl Habitat, better known as the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental accord established in the Iranian town of Ramsar on February 2, 1971. Its main mission is "The conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world." After World War II, international bodies like the UN and IUCN spurred efforts to protect wetlands, which were long viewed as disease-ridden wastelands but after re-evaluations in the 1960s–70s these sites were recognized as vital wildlife habitats. Subsequently, Project MAR (1961) was launched which focused on conserving temperate marshes threatened by drainage, leading to conferences that culminated in the Ramsar Convention adopted on 2 February 1971. The original focus was on the preservation and judicious use of wetlands, mainly as waterbird habitat. However, the Convention's application has expanded over time to encompass all facets of sensible use and wetland protection. The treaty entered force in 1975 and now has 172 parties and over 2,500 sites. As of 2026 it covers about 2.53 million km² worldwide, with the UK holding the most sites and Brazil the largest total area. The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands; “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”. According to the convention, five primary categories of wetlands are acknowledged: marine systems, encompassing coastal environments like lagoons, rocky shorelines, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs; estuarine regions, which embrace deltas, tidal mudflats, and mangrove forests; lacustrine environments linked directly to lakes; riverine areas lining streams and rivers; and palustrine habitats, denoting marshy terrains such as bogs, swamps, and marshes.  Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:

• work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;

• designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;

• cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species. ++++++++++++
  

Why Wetlands Matter

Wetlands are ecosystems defined by water saturation, where biological, physical and chemical processes are shaped by the presence of water. They act as transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic environments, with water levels ranging from permanent flooding to seasonal saturation, creating oxygen-poor hydric soils.

Although wetlands cover only about 6% of the Earth's land area, they support nearly 40% of all plant and animal species. Their waterlogged conditions sustain specialised hydrophytes and provide essential habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife to feed, breed and shelter. Birds, in turn, help maintain ecological balance through seed dispersal and the regulation of insect, fish and amphibian populations. Wetlands also act as natural sponges, absorbing and gradually releasing rainwater, groundwater and floodwater. This helps reduce flooding, soil erosion and agricultural runoff. Mangroves further protect freshwater reserves, filter pollutants and sediments, and prevent saltwater intrusion.

As an integral part of the global water cycle, wetlands regulate water flows, provide freshwater to communities, protect coastlines from erosion and serve as breeding grounds for fish, supporting local livelihoods. They are equally important in climate regulation, acting as significant carbon sinks. Wetlands contain over 35% of the world's soil carbon, while peatlands, marshes and swamps collectively store nearly twice as much carbon as all the world's forests combined.

State-wise spread in India

Located at the delta of Delta of the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal, this lush green wetland of Sundarbans is home to the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger and endangered species like the Irrawaddy Dolphin, spanning over an area of approximately 4,23,000 hectares, making it the largest protected wetland in India. It is also the largest mangrove forest in India, covering over 60% of the total mangrove forest cover and 90% of the mangrove species of India. The Sundarban Wetland was officially designated as a Ramsar Site on January 30, 2019. Similarly, India is home to 102 more such Ramsar sites with Tamil Nadu leading with 20 sites, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 14. Bihar, Odisha and Punjab each have six while other states like Jammu Kashmir and Gujarat have five sites each and so on. Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan were the first Indian wetlands acknowledged under the Ramsar Convention in 1981. They are globally known for their diverse ecosystems, particularly migratory waterfowl, and significant conservation value over time. 

With a remarkable ecological diversity of the Wetland network that encompasses the floating phumdis of Loktak Lake and the saline stretches of the Rann to the rain-fed Sukhna reservoir and the floodplain lakes of the Ganga basin that consistently host tens of thousands of waterbirds, India holds the top position in Asia and is third in terms of the number of sites (collectively, these sites cover more than 13.87 lakh hectares across 28 States and Union Territories), following the United Kingdom and Mexico. 

Sudden Surge in Sites

As mentioned earlier, India got its first two Ramsar sites designated in 1981; Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan. From then till 2014, the tally stood at a mere 26 sites in total. The pace was so slow that between 2012 and 2019 India went on without new designations. Then the pace surged and the network reached 42 sites by the end of 2020, 47 in 2021, 75 in 2022 and increased to 96 in 2025. Recently, on 15 October 2026, Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh pushed the count to 103. This sudden jump was a result of several factors and initiatives by the government. 

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017

Earlier, according to 2010 rules, the central government held the sole authority to identify and protect wetlands, increasing administrative bottlenecks. But the new rules of 2017 introduced decentralisation empowering local bodies to identify, evaluate and designate respective sites faster than before. The framework also legally mandated states to compile detailed digital inventories and "Brief Documents" for every regional water body, creating a streamlined pipeline that directly fed into international Ramsar designations. Also, mandatory integration of data with the Space Applications Centre (SAC) Wetland Atlas, backed by intense judicial monitoring of the Supreme Court meant legal protection of sites acquiring such designation which pushed domestic conservation measures aggressively. 

The National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)

NPCA, with a central subsidy of 60% to 100%, financed the comprehensive baseline research and Integrated Management Plans (IMPs) necessary for legal global nomination. The initiative requires that 75% of its finances be allocated directly to rigorous ecological restoration—such as de-silting, catchment care, etc—guaranteeing locations comply with stringent international biodiversity standards. It also financed projects such as Mission Sahbhagita and Amrit Dharohar, successfully transforming unprocessed local data into completely funded, internationally acknowledged wetlands.

Amrit Dharohar

This scheme acted as the operational and community engine by training over 17,000 "Wetland Mitras" (local volunteers), and establishing frontline community defense against encroachment and pollution. Additionally, it led the way in alternative livelihood initiatives for residents—like certified nature guiding and eco-tourism—which offered the international Ramsar Secretariat clear evidence of the "Wise Use" principle, effectively speeding up the process. 

Other initiatives

Other initiatives such as Mission Sahbhagita, Save Wetlands Campaign,  Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) and Wetlands of India Portal boosted the numbers largely as well.

Challenges

But even with all these initiatives, approximately one-third of wetlands in India have been destroyed or significantly damaged over the last 4 decades, and twenty-six designated RAMSAR sites are experiencing reduction due to unchecked developmental activities.

On the other hand, currently two sites of India Keoladeo National Park and the Loktak Lake are listed in the Montreux record (a register within the Ramsar list which are actively suffering or face an immediate ecological threat and are, hence, monitored)- due to water shortages, invasive weed growth and other ecological issues is. Chilika Lake which was formerly added in 1993 due to siltation and choking, was later removed in 2002 after successful restoration work. 

Essentially, with the rapidly growing number of sites comes the responsibility of preserving them as well. Apart from natural causes such as disasters and climate change-induced effects, challenges include encroachment driven by urbanisation, real-estate development, agriculture and aquaculture, untreated sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, invasive species such as water hyacinth, siltation and altered river flows threaten wetland ecosystems and degrade habitat.However, conservation efforts are undermined by weak legal enforcement and fragmented institutional responsibilities. 

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, have faced criticism for narrowing the scope of protection and allowing considerable state-level discretion while decentralising the process as well as excluding several artificial wetlands.

Although water is a state subject, only a few states have specific wetland conservation laws. For example, The Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act of 2008 in Kerala limits land conversion, yet exemptions for public needs and the lack of a thorough wetland database have undermined its enforcement. Likewise, the Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Rules, 2014 in Manipur limits reclamation, but unlawful transformations for residential, commercial properties, institutions, and fish farms persist. 

Indigenous populations and local inhabitants are essential for wetland conservation by utilizing resources sustainably and engaging in community-driven projects like endemic fish cultivation, eco-tourism, and wildlife observation. Groups like Tarun Bharat Sangh have collaborated with local communities to restore thousands of ponds and water conservation systems in Rajasthan. In the same way, local water user groups oversee traditional irrigation reservoirs throughout southern India. Even with these contributions, the 2017 Wetlands Rules offer minimal official involvement of local communities in conservation and management.

Conclusion

India's increase from 26 to 103 Ramsar Sites marks a notable accomplishment in acknowledgment and political emphasis. Ongoing threats from encroachment, pollution, invasive species, and changed hydrology, combined with poor enforcement and minimal formal involvement for local communities, persist in diminishing ecological integrity. The true measure of success will depend not on the increasing number of sites, but on whether these wetlands can maintain their ecological roles, sustain livelihoods, and offer the water security and climate resilience they have the potential to provide.