Maarg Manthan · Topic 20.4

Ramsar Wetland Sites and Natural World Heritage Sites in India

Environment & Ecology › Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment · Topic 20.4

Ramsar sites and Natural World Heritage Sites are two international designations that India uses to protect outstanding natural areas. A Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance listed under the Convention on Wetlands, signed at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and in force from 1975; India joined in 1982 and listed its first sites, Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, in 1981-82. India has well over 90 Ramsar sites by recent counts, one of the largest networks in Asia, with Tamil Nadu having the highest number of sites; the Sundarbans Wetland in West Bengal is the largest by area. Sites at risk of ecological change can be placed on the Montreux Record; Keoladeo and Loktak Lake in Manipur have been on it, while Chilika was removed from the Record in 2002 after restoration. Natural World Heritage Sites are inscribed under the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, which India ratified in 1977, for outstanding universal value under natural criteria vii to x. India has seven natural sites: Kaziranga National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985), Keoladeo National Park (1985), the Sundarbans National Park (1987), Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, extended in 2005), the Western Ghats (2012) and the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014), while Khangchendzonga National Park (2016) is a mixed site. Hedge details: counts rise with each new listing, so check the Ramsar Sites Information Service and UNESCO list.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment

At a Glance

Ramsar treaty 1971, in force 1975
India joined 1982
First Ramsar sites Chilika, Keoladeo
WH Convention 1972; India 1977
Natural WHS 7 (plus 1 mixed)
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows biosphere reserves and sets out the two other international designations, which together with them form the global recognition of Indian sites. Previous topic: Biosphere Reserves in India and in UNESCO’s World Network. Next topic: List of Sacred Groves and Mangrove Sites in India.

How Do Ramsar Sites and World Heritage Sites Differ?

Aspect	Details
Treaty	Ramsar: Convention on Wetlands, 1971 (force 1975); World Heritage: UNESCO Convention, 1972
India’s entry	Ramsar: 1982; World Heritage: 1977
What is listed	Ramsar: wetlands of international importance; WHS: places of outstanding universal value
Natural criteria	Criteria vii to x of the World Heritage operational guidelines
Danger lists	Ramsar: Montreux Record; World Heritage: List of World Heritage in Danger
Indian count	Ramsar: over 90 by recent counts; natural World Heritage: 7, plus Khangchendzonga as mixed
Legal effect	Listing creates international commitments; domestic protection comes from Indian laws

Which Sites Should You Remember?

Chilika Lake: Odisha; Asia’s largest brackish lagoon; first Ramsar site with Keoladeo; removed from the Montreux Record in 2002
Keoladeo: Rajasthan; both Ramsar and Natural World Heritage Site
Loktak Lake: Manipur; floating phumdis and Keibul Lamjao National Park
Sundarbans: West Bengal; largest Ramsar site by area and a Natural WHS
Kaziranga and Manas: Assam; both inscribed in 1985
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers: Uttarakhand, inscribed 1988 and extended 2005
Western Ghats: inscribed 2012 as a serial site across four states
Great Himalayan National Park: Himachal Pradesh, inscribed 2014

What Else Should You Remember?

Ramsar sites: identified for wise use and conservation
Wise use: the central idea of the Convention
Ramsar Secretariat: based in Gland, Switzerland
Ramsar criteria: nine criteria on representative types, species and waterbirds
Tamil Nadu: has the highest count of Ramsar sites by recent lists
Wular Lake: Jammu and Kashmir, large freshwater lake
Sambhar Lake: Rajasthan, the largest inland saline lake
Vembanad: Kerala, a large backwater
Bhitarkanika: Odisha, mangroves and crocodiles
Pong Dam: Himachal Pradesh, a reservoir wetland
Montreux Record: list of Ramsar sites with changes in ecological character
Keoladeo and Loktak: listed in the Montreux Record
Wetlands Rules: Indian rules regulate activities in wetlands
National Wetland Conservation Programme: supports management plans
Wetland Mission: Amrit Dharohar and similar campaigns encourage wetland use
World Wetlands Day: 2 February
World Heritage Committee: selects sites each year
Criteria vii: superlative natural phenomena or beauty
Criteria viii: earth’s history and geology
Criteria ix: ecological and biological processes
Criteria x: biodiversity and threatened species
Serial sites: Western Ghats includes 39 component parts
Mixed site: Khangchendzonga in Sikkim, 2016, natural and cultural
Total World Heritage: India has over 40 sites, mostly cultural
Danger listing: India has no natural site in danger now
Link to previous: see Biosphere Reserves in India and in UNESCO’s World Network
Link to next: see List of Sacred Groves and Mangrove Sites in India
Link to Ramsar: see Ramsar Convention and the Asian Waterbird Census
Link to wetlands: see Wetlands in India and Threats to Wetland Ecosystems
Caution: counts change with new listings, so check Ramsar and UNESCO
Exam hint: remember 1971, 1972, the first sites and the seven natural sites
Keoladeo: Keoladeo is known for migratory waterbirds including the Siberian crane in the past, and its wetland depends on water released from Ghana canal
Loktak: Loktak supports floating biomass mats called phumdis, which hold the Keibul Lamjao National Park, home to the sangai deer
Management plans: Ramsar sites need a management plan, with central support from wetland conservation schemes
Site selection: States nominate sites after studies, and the Centre submits the nomination to the Ramsar Secretariat
Role of local people: Fishing, grazing and tourism near wetlands need rules so that livelihoods and conservation both continue
Climate role: Wetlands store carbon, buffer floods and recharge groundwater, which add to their value

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Ramsar: 1971; India 1982
World Heritage: 1972; India 1977
Natural sites: Seven
Current affairs link: New Ramsar sites
Common errors: mixing up the two lists

As an analytical point, international listing brings attention and funds but not new law. The Indian protection depends on domestic statutes, management plans and local action, and a site may carry several designations at once.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Ramsar Wetlands
WHS Universal value
Gap Domestic law

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the list of sacred groves and mangrove sites in India. Next topic: List of Sacred Groves and Mangrove Sites in India.

Key People and Terms

Ramsar site Wetland of international importance
Montreux Record Ramsar danger list
OUV Outstanding universal value
WHS World Heritage Site
Serial site Site with several parts
Wise use Ramsar principle

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Ramsar 1971; India 1982.
WH Convention 1972.
7 natural WHS.
Danger list: Montreux Record.
First Ramsar: Chilika, Keoladeo.

Do Not Confuse With

Ramsar and World Heritage Wetland treaty versus heritage treaty
Montreux Record and Danger List Wetlands versus heritage
Natural and mixed site Natural only versus natural and cultural

Memory Hook

Seventy-one wet, seventy-two heritage; seven natural, Keoladeo both.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for dates, firsts and lists. These points help.

Treaties Two
Sites Examples
Gaps Domestic law

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Compare Ramsar sites and Natural World Heritage Sites in India with examples.”

How to Answer

Treaties Two.
Lists Examples.
Danger Lists.
Gaps Law.

GS Relevance

Prelims: counts, firsts, Montreux Record, natural sites. GS Paper 3: conservation and international designations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Ramsar site?

A Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance listed under the Convention on Wetlands, signed at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. Countries commit to wise use of listed wetlands. India joined in 1982, and its first sites, Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park, were listed in 1981-82.

How many Ramsar sites does India have?

India has over 90 Ramsar sites by recent counts, making it one of the countries with the largest networks in Asia. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of sites, while the Sundarbans Wetland in West Bengal is the largest by area. The count keeps rising, so check the Ramsar Sites Information Service.

What is the Montreux Record?

The Montreux Record is the Ramsar list of sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur because of human interference. Indian sites on it have included Keoladeo and Loktak Lake, while Chilika was removed in 2002 after successful restoration work.

Which are India's natural World Heritage Sites?

They are Kaziranga and Manas (1985), Keoladeo (1985), the Sundarbans (1987), Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers (1988, extended 2005), the Western Ghats (2012) and the Great Himalayan National Park (2014). Khangchendzonga (2016) is a mixed natural and cultural site.

Can a site be both Ramsar and World Heritage?

Yes. Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan and the Sundarbans in West Bengal are both Ramsar sites and Natural World Heritage Sites, and may also be national parks or tiger reserves. Each designation gives international recognition, while legal protection comes from national laws like the Wildlife Protection Act.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Chilika Lake was removed from the Montreux Record in 2002.

True

After restoration.

2 The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1972.

False

In 1971.

3 Keoladeo is both a Ramsar site and a Natural WHS.