Relevance: GS III (Environment & Biodiversity) | Source: The Hindu 

1. The Context: World Wetlands Day 2026

Today, February 2, 2026, marks World Wetlands Day, celebrating the anniversary of the Ramsar Convention signed in Iran in 1971.

• Theme 2026: “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.” This shifts the focus from purely scientific conservation to the wisdom of indigenous communities in protecting these ecosystems.
• India’s Achievement: India has expanded its network to 98 Ramsar Sites, solidifying its rank as 1st in Asia and 3rd globally (after the UK and Mexico).

2. Conceptual Clarity: Why “Kidneys”?

Wetlands (marshes, peatlands, lakes) are often called the “Kidneys of the Landscape” because they filter pollutants and trap sediments, purifying water naturally.

• Definition: Under the Ramsar Convention, wetlands include areas where water depth does not exceed six meters at low tide.
• Carbon Sequestration: Though peatlands cover only 3% of the earth’s land, they store 30% of all land-based carbon, making them vital for fighting climate change.

3. Current Status in India (Feb 2026)

• New Additions: Two key sites were recently added:
  1. Patna Bird Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh): A freshwater marsh in Etah district, crucial for the Central Asian Flyway.
  2. Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat): A seasonal saline wetland in the Kutch region, famous for flamingos.
• State Leader: Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar sites (20), followed by Uttar Pradesh.
• Montreux Record: Only two Indian sites remain on this list of “threatened” wetlands: Loktak Lake (Manipur) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan). (Chilika Lake was successfully removed).

4. Conservation Framework

• Amrit Dharohar Scheme (2023): Aims to promote unique conservation values of Ramsar Sites through community participation and eco-tourism.
• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017: These rules decentralized management to State Wetland Authorities, prohibiting encroachment and solid waste dumping.

UPSC Value Box

Q. With reference to the Ramsar Convention and wetlands in India, consider the following statements:

1. World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2nd to mark the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971.
2. The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the Ramsar List where changes in ecological character have occurred or are likely to occur.
3. Currently, Sundarbans in West Bengal is the only site from India listed in the Montreux Record.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)