What Are Ramsar Sites? Know About Significance & Need For Conservation Of Wetlands

Here is everything you need to know about wetlands and their conservation as the Ramsar sites are in the news and there is a lot of knowledge that needs to be shared.

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Recently, India has designated five new wetlands as being of international significance, including three in Tamil Nadu (Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, and Pichavaram Mangrove), one in Mizoram (Pala Wetland), and one in Madhya Pradesh (Sakhya Sagar). The number of Ramsar sites has increased from 49 to 54.

Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav took to social media and expressed his delight. He informed that 5 more Indian wetlands have got Ramsar recognition as wetlands of international importance. 

The emphasis PM Shri @narendramodi ji has put on environmental protection and conservation has led to a marked improvement in how India treats its wetlands.

Delighted to inform that 5 more Indian wetlands have got Ramsar recognition as wetlands of international importance. pic.twitter.com/VZDQfiIZN8

— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) July 26, 2022

The Ramsar sites are in news and there is a lot of information that has to be imparted, here’s all you should know about wetlands and their conservation. 

What Are Ramsar Sites? 

Under the Ramsar Convention, a wetland site is defined as having international significance and is known as a Ramsar site. Ramsar Convention is a global agreement for the preservation and sensible use of wetlands. It has the name of the Caspian Sea city of Ramsar in Iran, where the pact was signed on February 2, 1971.

It entered into force in 1975 and is formally known as the "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance notably as Waterfowl Habitat" (or, more recently, just "Convention on Wetlands").

What Is The Significance Of Wetlands; Why Is There A Need To Conserve Them? 

As per a CBD global press brief release published in the year 2015, Wetlands are crucial for a healthy planet because wetlands are distinctive, productive ecosystems where land and water meet. 

Wetlands are essential for preserving numerous natural cycles and providing habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. They offer the fish and grains that feed billions while also cleaning and replenishing our water resources. They defend our coastlines, act as a natural sponge against flooding and drought, and contribute to the fight against climate change. 

Wetlands, which are teeming with species, are an essential method of storing carbon. Wetlands are incredibly productive ecosystems that offer a wide range of services to humanity on a global scale.

Basically, the health of people on our planet depends on healthy wetlands, hence, their conservation is a must. 

Nurseries Of Life- 40% of the world’s species live or breed in wetlands. They are used by almost all waterbird species worldwide for breeding and foraging. Wetlands are used by migratory waterbirds throughout their range, which can occasionally extend practically from pole to pole. Coordinated wetlands conservation efforts spanning several nations are needed to protect the feeding, nesting, and stopover habitats that migratory birds depend on across and between continents.

Kidneys Of The Earth - They clean the environmental pollutants. Wetland plants aid in the absorption of toxic pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial pollutants.

Fights Climate Change - Peatlands (terrestrial wetland ecosystems) alone store more than twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests. Faced with rising sea levels, coastal wetlands reduce the impact of typhoons and tsunamis. They also bind the shoreline and resist erosion

Minimises Disaster Risks- They control the amount of water available, and groundwater recharge, and can help control floods and the effects of storms. Wetlands aid in the development of new land and improve storm resilience by reducing erosion and moving silt. All of these ecosystem services, along with security from natural catastrophes and climate change adaptation, increase water security. The role of ecosystems in the supply of water and its quality was acknowledged in the final Rio+20 outcome document, "The Future We Want," among other things.

The primary causes of wetlands loss and degradation, which are frequently seen as wastelands to be drained, filled in, and used for other purposes, include significant changes in land use, particularly an increase in agriculture and grazing and urban infrastructure development, air and water pollution and excess nutrients, and water diversion (dams, dikes, and canalization).

Wetlands are necessary for the survival of humanity. Consequently, there is no denying that many of the difficulties of the future can be overcome by protecting and exploiting wetlands sustainably.