Ramsar convention
Commitment to wetlands, biodiversity
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty that provides the framework for conserving wetlands and using them sustainably. Adopted at the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, the convention came into force in December 1975.
The convention's original emphasis was on the conservation and wise use of wetlands, primarily to provide habitats for water birds. Over the years, however, it has has broadened its scope, recognising wetlands as ecosystems that are important for biodiversity, conservation in general and for the well-being of dependent people.
The first obligation of the signatories to the convention is to designate at least one wetland for inclusion to the Ramsar list and to promote its conservation. Twenty-five of the more than 1,600 Ramsar sites are in India, including Chilika and Keoladeo. Experts recommend an increase in the number of these sites in the country."We have proposed 199 sites as eligible to be declared Ramsar sites,' says Lalitha Vijayan of SACON. 
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