Topic: Wetlands & Ramsar Sites of India | Prelims Short Notes | Montreux Record
This page will be very helpful for quick revision for exams like UPPSC/UPSC/SSC/State PCS
Wetlands:
Wetlands are ecosystems where land and water meet, forming highly productive ecological zones.
They support rich biodiversity and provide habitat for many plants, birds, fish, and other organisms.
Ramsar Convention:
- Adopted: 2 February 1971
- Place: Ramsar, Iran
- Convention entered into force: 1975
- India became a party: 1 February 1982
- World Wetlands Day: 2 February
Important Current Facts of Ramsar Sites in India :
- Total Ramsar Sites: 101 (September 2026)
- Most Ramsar Sites: Tamil Nadu – 20
- Second highest: Uttar Pradesh – 13
- 101st Ramsar Site: Glaw Lake, Arunachal Pradesh (2026)
- India's first Ramsar Sites: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) — designated in 1981.
- Largest Ramsar Site in India by area: Sundarban Wetland, West Bengal
- Highest-altitude Ramsar Site: Tsomoriri Lake, Ladakh
- Longest Ramsar Site: Vembanad-Kol Wetland, Kerala
- Smallest Ramsar Site: Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
- Highest Wetland area: Gujarat
Importance of Wetlands:
Wetlands act as:
- Biodiversity hotspots – habitat for diverse flora and fauna
- Economic resources – fisheries, agriculture and tourism
- Carbon sinks – store carbon and help regulate climate
- Flood buffers – reduce the impact of floods
- Groundwater recharge zones
- Natural water purifiers – help filter pollutants and sediments
Montreux Record:
The Montreux Record is a register of Ramsar Sites where there are ecological changes or that are likely to occur because of pollution, technological developments, or other human interference.
It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
In India currently, 2 sites are on the record:
- Keoladeo National Park – Rajasthan, added: 1990
- Loktak Lake – Manipur, added: 1993
Chilika Lake – Odisha, was added to the Montreux Record: 1993, but removed: 2002 as a successful ecological restoration.
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