Context:
Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) submitted first of its kind of proposals for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) under the Ramsar Convention.
- It includes city of Indore, Bhopal and Udaipur.
Wetland City Accreditation (WCA):
- A voluntary accreditation system to recognize the importance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban (zones of transition from rural to urban) environments.
- Establishment – COP12 of Ramsar Convention (2015).
- Objective – Promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.
- Criteria: Accreditation is based on 6 criteria
- Validity – 6 years.
- Importance –
- Helps in implementation of Amrit Dharohar Initiative across the country.
Amrit Dharohar aims to promote unique conservation values of the Ramsar Sites in the country.
6 criteria for getting Wetland City Accreditation (WCA):
- It has one or more Ramsar Sites, or other significant wetlands which provide(s) a range of ecosystem services to the city;
- It has adopted measures for conservation of wetlands.
- It has implemented wetland restoration measures.
- It considers the challenges and opportunities of integrated spatial/land-use planning for wetlands under its jurisdiction.
- It has raised public awareness about the values of wetlands and enabled public participation in decision-making processes.
- It has established a local committee to support the preparation work and the implementation of measures.
| Indore (Madhya Pradesh) | Bhopal (Bihar) | Udaipur (Rajasthan) | |
| Ramsar Site (or) Wetland | Sirpur Lake, a bird sanctuary | Bhoj Wetland with Jal Tarang (wetland interpretation centre) | 5 wetlands – Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai |
| Efforts & Recognitions | Wetland mitras for Sarus Crane.Cleanest city in India.India’s Smart City Award 2023. | Wetland mitras for Sarus Crane. Lake Conservation CellDraft City Development Plan 2031 |
Click here to download Ramsar Sites Map
Ramsar Convention:
- An intergovernmental treaty under UNESCO that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
- Adopted in – Ramsar (Iran) in 1971.
- Ramsar sites in India – 75 (January 2024)
- Ramsar site – a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
- Largest Ramsar site in India – Sundarbans, West Bengal
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
Wetlands: Confluence of rivers
1. Harike Wetlands: Confluence of Beas and Satluj/Sutlej
2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park: Confluence of Banas and Chambal
3. Kolleru Lake: Confluence of Musi and Krishna
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Keoladeo Ghana National Park is situated at the confluence of the Gambhir and Banganga rivers.
Kolleru Lake lies between the Godavari and Krishna river deltas. Hence, pairs 2 and 3 are not correctly matched.
