Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: PIB
Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has nominated Indore, Bhopal, and Udaipur for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. It is the first nomination of its kind by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Ramsar Site in Indore: Sirpur Wetland, Yashwant Sagar (Ramsar site closer to Indore)
- Ramsar Site in Bhopal: Bhoj Wetland
- Ramsar Site in and around Udaipur: Five major wetlands — Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai
About WCA and Ramsar sites:
| About Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) | It is a voluntary accreditation system to recognize the importance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban environments. |
| Origin: Outcome of Ramsar Convention during COP12 in 2015. | |
| Objective: Promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations | |
| Significance: Provides international recognition and branding for wetland conservation efforts. It will also help in the implementation of the Amrit Dharohar Initiative (to conserve Ramsar Sites in India) | |
| Validity: Once granted it is valid for 6 years. | |
| What are Wetlands? | Definition: Areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, natural or artificial, static or flowing, with fresh, brackish, or saltwater. |
| Ramsar Convention | It is an Intergovernmental treaty in 1971 at Ramsar (Iran). It provides the framework for conservation and wise use of wetlands and resources. |
| 172 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention as of January 2024, with India having declared 75 wetland sites. | |
| Montreux Record: Register of Ramsar Sites needing urgent attention, launched in 1990. | |
| India’s Largest Ramsar Site: | Sundarbans in West Bengal, covering around 11,000 square kilometres, are vital habitat for Bengal tigers. |
| The state with the highest number | Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar Sites in India with 14 Ramsar Sites. |
