World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The UN General Assembly on 30 August 2021 adopted Resolution 75/317 that established 2 February as World Wetlands Day. About Wetlands A broad definition of wetlands is Land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans. They can be classified as follows. Inland wetlands: Marshes, lakes, rivers, floodplains, peatlands and swamps Coastal wetlands : Saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons and coral reefs Human-made wetlands : Fish ponds, rice paddies and salt pans Wetlands are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems. They provide essential services and supply all our fresh water. However they continue to be degraded and converted to other uses. The wise use of wetlands is “the maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development”. Wise use can thus be seen as the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and all the services they provide, for the benefit of people and nature. For the list of Wetlands of International Importance, click here. Wetlands in India India is endowed by a rich diversity of wetlands ranging from high altitude wetlands of Himalayas, floodplains of mighty rivers as Ganges and Brahmaputra, lagoons and mangrove marshes on the coastline and reefs in the marine environments. As per National Wetland Atlas, India has nearly 4.6% of its land as wetlands, covering an area of 15.26 million hectares. India became a party to the Ramsar Convention in 1982, and as on 2 Febraury 2025 has 89 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites). The total area covered under Ramsar sites is now 1.36 million ha, which is approximately 8% of the area of known wetlands in the country and the highest in South Asia. Tamil Nadu continues to have maximum number of Ramsar Sites (18 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites). The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as the nodal Ministry for wetlands conservation have been assisting State Governments since 1985 in design and implementation of integrated management plans. Financial assistance has been provided to State Governments for implementation of management plans for 180 wetlands. In 2017, the Ministry has also notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules as the regulatory framework for wetlands in the country. Several states have also notified wetland authorities and acts and rules for conservation and wise-use of wetlands. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched Mission Sahbhagita in 2022 with a mission of ‘a healthy and effectively managed network of 75 wetlands of national and international significance which support water and food security; buffer from floods, droughts, cyclones and other extreme events; employment generation; conservation of species of local, national and international significance; climate change mitigation and adaptation actions; and recognition, conservation and celebration of cultural heritage.’ Amrit Dharohar initiative, part of the 2023-24 budget announcement, was launched by MoEFCC during June 2023 to promote unique conservation values of the Ramsar Sites in the country while generating employment opportunities and supporting local livelihoods. This initiative is to be implemented over three years in convergence with various Central Government ministries and agencies, State Wetland Authorities, and a network of formal and informal institutions and individuals, working together for a common cause. The initiative focuses on four key components, Species and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihood and Wetlands Carbon. This year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, is organizing the national World Wetlands Day event at at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, Gonda District, Uttar Pradesh. The Ramsar Convention The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to: work towards the wise use of all their wetlands; designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species. Source : RAMSAR Theme for 2025 - Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future World Wetlands Day 2025 underscores the need for collaboration and foresight as we build a future wherein all people, everywhere, can continue to benefit from the life-sustaining services that wetlands provide. By valuing and protecting wetlands today – and by inspiring one another in this united effort – we better ensure our common future and wellbeing.Three key messages inform this year’s campaign. Protecting the world’s wetlands is in our common interest – it safeguards us all. The future of humanity depends on bold action today to protect and restore these indispensable ecosystems. COP15 unites us in the global effort to promote wetland conservation and ensure the continuity of their benefits. Benefits of wetlands Store and clean water Wetlands hold and provide most of our fresh water. They naturally filter pollutants, leaving water we can safely drink. Life providers Rice paddies feed 3.5 billion people annually. 1 billion livelihoods Most efficient land-based carbon stores Host 40% of global species Underpin our global economy Wetlands, the most valuable ecosystem, provide services worth US $47 trillion a year. More than one billion people rely on wetlands for income. Provide nature a home 40% of the world’s species live and breed in wetlands. Annually, about 200 new fish species discovered in freshwater wetlands. Coral reefs are home to 25% of all species. Keep us safe Wetlands provide protection from floods and storms with each acre of wetland absorbing up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater. Wetlands help regulate the climate: peatlands store twice as much carbon as forests, with saltmarshes, mangroves and seagrass beds also holding vastamounts of carbon Source : World Wetlands Day Related Resources The Ramsar Fact Sheets The Ramsar Convention The Fourth Ramsar Strategic Plan 2016-2025