Wetlands are what the Ramsar Convention defines as “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.”
But As per the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 wetlands are “area of marsh, fen, peatland or water; whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters, but does not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/ tanks specifically constructed for drinking water purposes and structures specifically constructed for aquaculture, salt production, recreation and irrigation purposes.”
India ratified the Ramsar convention on February 1st, 1982. There are currently 75 locations in India that are Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites).
Wetlands make up 6.4% of the earth’s surface on a global scale. India currently has 75 sites with a total surface area of 1,326,677 hectares that have been designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites). It is South Asia’s largest network of Ramsar Sites. Khijadia Bird Sanctuary near Jamnagar in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh have recently been recognised as wetlands of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Ramsar Wetlands Sites In India
S. No. | Name of Site | State Location |
1 | Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh |
2 | Deepor Beel | Assam |
3 | Kabartal Wetland | Bihar |
4 | Nanda Lake | Goa |
5 | Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary | Gujarat |
6 | Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary | Gujarat |
7 | Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary | Gujarat |
8 | Wadhvana Wetland | Gujarat |
9 | Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary | Haryana |
10 | Sultanpur National Park | Haryana |
11 | Chandertal Wetland | Himachal Pradesh |
12 | Pong Dam Lake | Himachal Pradesh |
13 | Renuka Wetland | Himachal Pradesh |
14 | Hokera Wetland | Jammu and Kashmir |
15 | Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve | Jammu and Kashmir |
16 | Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve | Jammu and Kashmir |
17 | Surinsar-Mansar Lakes | Jammu and Kashmir |
18 | Wular Lake | Jammu and Kashmir |
19 | Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary | Karnataka |
20 | Asthamudi Wetland | Kerala |
21 | Sasthamkotta Lake | Kerala |
22 | Vembanad Kol Wetland | Kerala |
23 | Tso Kar Wetland Complex | Ladakh |
24 | Tsomoriri Lake | Ladakh |
25 | Bhoj Wetlands | Madhya Pradesh |
26 | Sakhya Sagar | Madhya Pradesh |
27 | Sirpur Wetland | Madhya Pradesh |
28 | Yashwant Sagar | Madhya Pradesh |
29 | Lonar Lake | Maharashtra |
30 | Nandur Madhameshwar | Maharashtra |
31 | Thane Creek | Maharashtra |
32 | Loktak Lake | Manipur |
33 | Pala Wetland | Mizoram |
34 | Ansupa Lake | Odisha |
35 | Bhitarkanika Mangroves | Odisha |
36 | Chilka Lake | Odisha |
37 | Hirakud Reservoir | Odisha |
38 | Satkosia Gorge | Odisha |
39 | Tampara Lake | Odisha |
40 | Beas Conservation Reserve | Punjab |
41 | Harike Lake | Punjab |
42 | Kanjli Lake | Punjab |
43 | Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve | Punjab |
44 | Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary | Punjab |
45 | Ropar Lake | Punjab |
46 | Keoladeo Ghana NP | Rajasthan |
47 | Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan |
48 | Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
49 | Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu |
50 | Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
51 | Karikili Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
52 | Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
53 | Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest | Tamil Nadu |
54 | Pichavaram Mangrove | Tamil Nadu |
55 | Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
56 | Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex | Tamil Nadu |
57 | Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
58 | Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
59 | Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
60 | Vellode Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu |
61 | Vembannur Wetland Complex | Tamil Nadu |
62 | Rudrasagar Lake | Tripura |
63 | Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh |
64 | Haiderpur Wetland | Uttar Pradesh |
65 | Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh |
66 | Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh |
67 | Saman Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh |
68 | Samaspur Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh |
69 | Sandi Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh |
70 | Sarsai Nawar Jheel | Uttar Pradesh |
71 | Sur Sarovar | Uttar Pradesh |
72 | Upper Ganga River | Uttar Pradesh |
73 | Asan Conservation Reserve | Uttarakhand |
74 | East Kolkata Wetlands | West Bengal |
75 | Sunderbans Wetland | West Bengal |