Wetlands
What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are where land and water meet, creating conditions that support distinct plant and animal life. They can be freshwater, saline, or brackish. Marshes, swamps, lakes, floodplains, mangroves, estuaries, and even paddy fields are all wetlands. They are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth.
How Many Ramsar Sites Does India Have?
India currently has over 90 Ramsar sites, wetlands that are recognised as being of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, a global treaty for the conservation of wetlands. This makes India the country with the highest number of Ramsar wetlands in Asia and the third highest in the world.
The diversity of wetlands in India is staggering. For instance, the Chilika lake in Odisha is the largest brackish water lagoon in the world and is also home to the Irrawaddy dolphin. Tso Kar lake in Ladakh is a brackish water lake fed by snowmelt frequented by the black-necked cranes.
Why Migratory Birds Flock to Wetlands?
One of the key features of India’s wetlands is the large number of migratory birds they host, making them vital stopovers along major global migratory bird flyways. For example, Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan and Harike Wildlife Sanctuary in Punjab welcomes thousands of migratory birds like bar-headed geese, painted storks, and various species of ducks and waders every winter. Wetlands also host fish, frogs, turtles, otters, and the elusive fishing cat. Wetlands are also lifelines for many cities—like the East Kolkata Wetlands, which naturally treat sewage and support livelihoods.
Why are Wetlands Threatened?
Wetlands absorb floodwaters, recharge groundwater, filter pollutants, store carbon, and support livelihoods. They also play a crucial role in buffering the impacts of climate change. But wetlands are disappearing at a faster rate than forests. They are often drained or reclaimed and become easy targets for development and encroachment.
Wetlands are central to water security, to biodiversity, and to a sustainable future, and their good health ensures ours.









































































































































































































