Wetlands are of the highest importance, as they provide essential aquatic and non-aquatic habitat for millions of animals, plants, and microorganisms. Wetlands also play a significant role in the global maintenance of biological diversity, act as breeding grounds for waterfowl and migratory birds, are important to local communities through fishing and hunting, and provide timber for furniture making and firewood.
Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under this Convention. They are established for national and regional conservation of wetlands at the request of or with the assistance of the government(s) concerned. The most basic requirement for an area to become a Ramsar site is the presence of a wetland, which fulfills the objectives of the Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention.
The Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ is applicable to wetlands not only in the context of conservation but also in the management of livelihoods. In particular, this concept is relevant to the management of mainstream fisheries for food security and poverty alleviation. Ramsar has also emphasized the option of effective, sustainable use tailored to local conditions so as to create income opportunities that are compatible with wetlands.
Wetlands must protect, maintain and restore the balances of ecosystem processes and functions. “Wise Use” requires Contracting Parties to manage wetlands in keeping with these principles:-
Wise use is strategically linked to the conservation of wetlands and all of their functions. This entails sustainable provisioning of water and other surface and groundwater use, health and habitat values, subsistence benefits, cultural and spiritual values, recreational and aesthetic values, prevention of wetland degradation, regulation of natural hazards such as floods, and many more uses. It is usually implemented together with full protection (conservation), rehabilitation or restoration projects.
India has 26 Ramsar sites. These areas are unique and have been declared as such due to their ecosystem, biodiversity, community benefits, local stakeholder initiatives, etc. The important Ramsar sites are: Chilika Lake (Odisha), Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), Loktak Lake (Manipur), Ashtamudi Wetland (Kerala), etc.
Loktak Lake was included on the Montreux Record of Ramsar Convention in 1993, as a result of ecological problems such as deforestation in the catchment area, infestation of water hyacinth and pollution. Loktak Lake is the biggest freshwater lake in northeast India. It is located on the boundary of Bishnupur and Thoubal district closer to Bishnupur.
Keoladeo National Park was placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to water shortage and unbalanced grazing regime around it. Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a famous bird sanctuary in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The sanctuary is one of the most celebrated bird sanctuaries in India.
Wetlands are vital for human survival as they are among the world’s most productive environments, cradles of biological diversity that provide water and productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival. Wetlands are also called ‘water towers of the earth’ because they purify water, provide a buffer to floods and storms, regulate global climatic conditions, promote agricultural yields, and sustain livelihoods through fisheries and trade in wildlife products.
Around the world, wetlands are under threat. From drainage for farming, to pollution from municipal, industrial, and agricultural sources, and the many other uses of wetlands from logging to salt production. In fact, soil salinity is one of the major problems facing those living around coastal brackish waters in many parts of the world. Many of these activities have been taken place with little or no attention being paid to the impact on these important ecosystems and how they affect the surrounding population.
