Tag: WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2025

MoEFCC organized World Wetlands Day 2025 celebrations at Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, Gonda, Uttar Pradesh on 2nd February 2025. World Wetlands Day 2025 Observed Annually: Marks the adoption of the Ramsar Convention (1971, Iran) to raise awareness about wetlands. Theme for 2025: "Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future." New Ramsar Sites in India: Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand), Theerthangal & Sakkarakottai (Tamil Nadu), Khecheopalri (Sikkim) First Ramsar sites in Jharkhand & Sikkim. India now has 89 Ramsar Sites. Tamil Nadu (20 sites) & Uttar Pradesh (10 sites) have the most Ramsar sites. New Tourism Corridor: A nature-culture tourism corridor announced between Ayodhya and Devi Patan, UP. Parvati Arga Ramsar Site Permanent freshwater wetland with two oxbow lakes (Parvati & Arga) in Gangetic plains (Terai region). Nearby Tikri Forest is being developed for eco-tourism. Oxbow lakes: Formed when a river meander is cut off, creating U-shaped lakes. Ecological Importance: Habitat for critically endangered white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, and endangered Egyptian vulture. Migratory birds (Eurasian coots, mallards, greylag geese, northern pintails, red-crested pochards) visit in winters. Threats: Invasive species like common water hyacinth. Cultural Significance: Birthplaces of Maharishi Patanjali & Goswami Tulsidas, promoting religious tourism. What are Wetlands? Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor influencing the environment and biodiversity. Defined as transitional lands between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems with shallow water or high water tables. Types of Wetlands Coastal Wetlands – Found between land and open sea (e.g., mangroves, coral reefs). Shallow Lakes & Ponds – Permanent/semi-permanent water bodies (e.g., salt lakes, crater lakes). Marshes – Herbaceous vegetation with periodic flooding (e.g., tidal & non-tidal marshes). Swamps – Tree/shrub-dominated wetlands (freshwater or saltwater). Bogs – Waterlogged peatlands fed mainly by rainfall. Estuaries – Where rivers meet the sea, supporting high biodiversity (e.g., deltas, tidal mudflats). Importance of Wetlands Provide two-thirds of the world’s fish harvest. Act as natural barriers for flood control and soil erosion prevention. Store carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Support 40% of global species and serve as biodiversity hotspots. Source of food, medicine, hydropower, and tourism Support commercial and recreational fisheries. Threats to Wetlands Urbanization – Encroachment for housing and industry. Agriculture – Conversion to paddy fields, altering hydrology. Pollution – Industrial and agricultural runoff contaminating water. Climate Change – Rising temperatures, extreme weather events. Dredging & Draining – Alters water tables, drying wetlands. Invasive Species – Water hyacinth, salvinia threatening native flora. Salinization – Over-extraction of groundwater. Conservation Efforts Ramsar Convention (1975) – International treaty for wetland conservation. Focuses on wise use, designation, and international cooperation. Montreux Record – List of Ramsar sites facing ecological threats. India’s Sites: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), Loktak Lake (Manipur). Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 – Replaced Central Regulatory Authority with State-Level Wetland Committees. Excludes backwaters, lagoons, and estuaries from "wetlands" definition. Way Forward Integrated wetland management involving planners, ecologists, and policymakers. Stronger regulations and sustainable urban planning. Community awareness programs to protect wetlands. Continuous monitoring of water quality and biodiversity health.

Tag: WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2025

WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2025

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