Why in the News?

Prime Minister recently commended Indore and Udaipur for earning a spot in the prestigious list of 31 Wetland Accredited Cities (WCA) worldwide under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Key Highlights of Indore and Udaipur

Indore:
- Known as India’s cleanest city and recipient of Smart City 2023 Award.
- Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar site, supports large water bird congregations and is being developed as a bird sanctuary.
- Over 200 wetland mitras are actively involved in conservation efforts, particularly protecting the Sarus Crane.
Udaipur:
- Famous for its picturesque lakes, including Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai.
- These wetlands are vital for maintaining the city’s microclimate and providing a buffer against extreme weather events.

About Wetland City Accreditation (WCA)

It was introduced during COP 12 (2015) of the Ramsar Convention to recognize cities that take exceptional steps in wetland conservation and sustainable management.
Objective: To promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands while fostering socio-economic benefits for local populations.
The accreditation is valid for 6 years.

Criteria for WCA:

Cities must meet specific standards set by the Ramsar Convention, including:

Presence of one or more Ramsar sites or significant wetlands.
Implementation of wetland conservation measures and restoration initiatives.
Integration of wetlands into land-use planning.
Raising public awareness about the importance of wetlands.
Establishing local committees with expertise in wetland management.
Having strong laws and policies to prevent wetland degradation.

India’s Efforts in Wetland Conservation

India became a Ramsar Convention member in 1982, with 85 Ramsar sites covering 13,58,068 hectares (10% of India’s wetland area).
India initially designated 26 Ramsar sites (1982–2013) and added 59 more since 2014, reflecting a growing commitment to wetland preservation.
Tamil Nadu leads with 18 Ramsar sites, followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
Global Leadership Wetland Conservation:
- UK has the highest number of Ramsar sites (175), followed by Mexico (142).
- Bolivia has the largest area under Ramsar protection (148,000 sq. km).

Interesting Facts about Indian Wetlands:

India’s wetlands cover 1,52,600 sq. km, constituting 4.63% of its geographical area (ISRO data).
Gujarat has the largest wetland area, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance:
- Examples include Chilika Lake (Odisha), Sundarbans (West Bengal), and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan).

PYQ:

[2014] If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

(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 kilometres 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.’

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