Maarg Manthan · Topic 9.12

Wetlands in India and Threats to Wetland Ecosystems

Environment & Ecology › Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems · Topic 9.12

India has a wide range of wetlands, from Himalayan lakes and Gangetic floodplains to coastal lagoons, mangroves, reservoirs and village tanks. The National Wetland Atlas prepared by the Space Applications Centre of ISRO in 2011 mapped wetlands covering about 15.3 million hectares, roughly 4.6 percent of India's geographical area; newer updates exist, so check the latest. India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982 and has a large and rising number of Ramsar sites, well over 80, with Tamil Nadu holding the most; the first sites were Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park. Loktak Lake in Manipur and Keoladeo are listed in the Montreux Record, the list of Ramsar sites where the ecological character is changing or likely to change. Key threats are encroachment and reclamation, urbanisation, pollution, drainage for farming, invasive weeds such as water hyacinth, silting, changes in water flow, over-extraction, and climate change.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems

At a Glance

Ramsar entry India joined in 1982
First sites Chilika, Keoladeo
Montreux Record Loktak, Keoladeo
Atlas ISRO SAC, 2011
Most Ramsar sites Tamil Nadu
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems

Where Does It Fit?

This topic applies the general account of wetlands to India. It sets up the final topic on the Ramsar Convention itself and the Asian Waterbird Census. Previous topic: Wetlands: Definition, Types and Importance. Next topic: Ramsar Convention and the Asian Waterbird Census.

Which Are Important Indian Wetlands?

Wetland	Features
Chilika Lake (Odisha)	Largest brackish water lagoon in Asia; one of the first two Indian Ramsar sites; Irrawaddy dolphins and winter birds
Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)	Bharatpur; human-managed wetland and bird sanctuary; Ramsar site; on the Montreux Record
Loktak Lake (Manipur)	Largest freshwater lake in north-east India; floating phumdis; Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park, home to the sangai deer; on the Montreux Record
Wular Lake (Jammu and Kashmir)	One of the largest freshwater lakes in India, on the Jhelum, a Ramsar site
Sundarbans (West Bengal)	Mangrove wetland, Ramsar site and World Heritage site
Harike (Punjab) and Sambhar (Rajasthan)	Harike is a reservoir at the Beas-Sutlej confluence; Sambhar is India’s largest inland saline lake
Vembanad-Kol and Ashtamudi (Kerala)	Backwater wetlands, Ramsar sites

What Threatens Indian Wetlands and What Is Being Done?

Encroachment and reclamation: wetlands are filled for housing, roads and farms, especially around cities
Pollution: sewage, industrial effluent and farm runoff cause eutrophication
Invasive species: water hyacinth and other weeds choke lakes
Hydrological change: dams, barrages and diversions cut or alter water flow
Siltation: soil erosion in catchments fills lakes and ponds
Over-extraction: excess fishing, groundwater use and harvesting of plants
Climate change: shifting rain, floods, droughts and sea level rise
Response: Wetlands Rules 2017, state authorities, Ramsar wise use plans, NPCA, Amrit Dharohar

What Else Should You Remember?

ISRO atlas: built using satellite data, the 2011 atlas mapped over 200,000 wetlands above a minimum size, and was updated later
Wetland area share: about 4.6 percent of India’s geographical area in the 2011 atlas
Ramsar entry: India became a party on 1 February 1982
First Ramsar sites: Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park were listed in 1981
Ramsar count: India’s Ramsar sites have grown quickly, with many added each year since 2022; check the Ramsar site list for the latest number
Tamil Nadu: holds the largest number of Ramsar sites among states
Montreux Record: list of Ramsar sites under ecological threat; India has Keoladeo and Loktak on it
Chilika removed: Chilika was taken off the Montreux Record in 2002 after its restoration
Phumdis: floating mats of vegetation and soil in Loktak
Keibul Lamjao: the world’s only floating national park
Sangai: the brow-antlered deer, Manipur’s state animal, found in Keibul Lamjao
Kolleru: freshwater lake in Andhra Pradesh badly hit by fish ponds
Bhoj wetland: lakes of Bhopal, a Ramsar site
East Kolkata Wetlands: a Ramsar site that treats the city’s sewage through fish ponds, a model of wise use
Tso Moriri: high-altitude lake in Ladakh and a Ramsar site
Deepor Beel: Ramsar wetland near Guwahati
Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules: 2010 rules replaced by 2017 rules
National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems: NPCA, a scheme that merged earlier lake and wetland programmes in 2013
Amrit Dharohar: a 2023 initiative to promote wetland conservation and local use
Waterbird census: annual counts help track wetland health
Link to previous: see Wetlands: Definition, Types and Importance
Link to next: see Ramsar Convention and the Asian Waterbird Census
Link to rules: see Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010
Caution: Ramsar site counts, the Montreux list and wetland area figures change; use the current official lists
Exam hint: learn Ramsar sites by state, the two Montreux sites and the Loktak facts
National Wetland Atlas: the national atlas by the Space Applications Centre maps wetland type, area and water spread by state
Wetland types in the atlas: inland natural wetlands, inland human-made wetlands, coastal wetlands and smaller wetlands under the minimum size
Human-made share: reservoirs, tanks and ponds form a large part of India’s wetland area
Gujarat: has large coastal and inland wetland area, with the Nal Sarovar bird area, a Ramsar site

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Atlas: ISRO SAC
Montreux: Keoladeo, Loktak
Floating park: Keibul Lamjao
Current affairs link: New Ramsar sites each year
Common errors: listing Chilika on the current Montreux Record

As an analytical point, India’s wetlands are shrinking mostly through quiet conversion for land, not dramatic events. Notifying and mapping wetland boundaries, treating sewage and giving local people a stake are more effective than adding Ramsar tags alone.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Spread 4.6 percent
Threat Encroachment
Tool Rules, Ramsar

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Ramsar Convention and the Asian Waterbird Census. Next topic: Ramsar Convention and the Asian Waterbird Census.

Key People and Terms

Ramsar site Wetland of international importance
Montreux Record Threatened sites list
Phumdi Floating biomass
NPCA Aquatic ecosystem plan
Wise use Sustainable use
Eutrophication Nutrient overload

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

India joined Ramsar in 1982.
First sites: Chilika, Keoladeo.
Montreux: Keoladeo, Loktak.
Floating park: Keibul Lamjao.
Rules: 2017.

Do Not Confuse With

Ramsar list and Montreux Record Important sites versus threatened sites
Loktak and Wular Manipur versus Jammu and Kashmir
Sambhar and Chilika Inland saline versus coastal brackish

Memory Hook

Eighty-two joined, Chilika first, Loktak floats, Montreux warns.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for sites, lists and threats. These points help.

Spread Sites
Threats Land use
Way Rules

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the status of wetlands in India and the main threats to them. Suggest measures for their conservation.”

How to Answer

Status Atlas, Ramsar.
Sites Examples.
Threats Land, waste.
Way Rules, people.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Ramsar sites, Montreux Record, atlas, programmes. GS Paper 3: wetland threats and conservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of India is covered by wetlands?

The National Wetland Atlas prepared by ISRO's Space Applications Centre in 2011 estimated that wetlands cover about 15.3 million hectares, or roughly 4.6 percent of India's geographical area. Newer assessments have updated these numbers, so the latest official atlas should be used for current figures.

Which were India's first Ramsar sites?

Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan were India's first two Ramsar sites, designated in 1981, before India formally joined the Convention in 1982. Since then, the number of Indian Ramsar sites has risen steadily, and Tamil Nadu has the largest number among states.

What is the Montreux Record?

The Montreux Record is a register of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur, because of technological developments, pollution or human interference. India's Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake are on it, and Chilika was removed in 2002 after restoration.

Why is Loktak Lake special?

Loktak in Manipur is the largest freshwater lake in north-east India. It is known for phumdis, floating masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter. Keibul Lamjao National Park on a large phumdi is the world's only floating national park and the last home of the sangai deer, Manipur's state animal.

What are the main threats to wetlands in India?

Main threats include encroachment and reclamation for housing and farming, discharge of sewage and industrial waste, invasive weeds such as water hyacinth, siltation, dams and diversions that change water flow, over-extraction of water and fish, and climate change, which brings floods, droughts and sea level rise.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Keoladeo National Park is on the Montreux Record.

True

Along with Loktak.

2 India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1971.

False

In 1982.

3 Keibul Lamjao is a floating national park.