Ramsar sites

Ramsar convention:

• It is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
• It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the Caspian Sea, where the treaty was signed on 2 February 1971.
• Known officially as ‘the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat’ (or, more recently, just ‘the Convention on Wetlands’), it came into force in 1975.

Montreux Record:

• Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
• It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
• The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990).
• Sites may be added to and removed from the Record only with the approval of the Contracting Parties in which they lie.

Wetlands are crucial for a healthy planet because:

The health of people on our planet depends on healthy wetlands.

• 40% of the world’s species live or breed in wetlands.
• Wetlands are “nurseries of life” – 40% of animals breed in wetlands.
• Wetlands are “kidneys of the earth” – they clean the environment of pollutants.
• Wetlands “matter for climate change” – they store 30% of land-based carbon.
• Wetlands “minimize disaster risks” – they absorb storm surge.

List of Ramsar sites in India