Ramsar convention is associated with ________.

The correct answer is Wetlands.

Key Points

• The Ramsar Convention, signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
• Its mission is to ensure the protection of wetlands and their resources to prevent their degradation globally.
• Wetlands of international importance are designated as Ramsar Sites, with over 2,400 sites identified globally as of 2023.
• India is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention and has 75 Ramsar Sites, such as Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), as of 2023.
• The convention highlights the ecological and economic importance of wetlands, such as their role in water purification, flood control, and biodiversity conservation.

Additional Information

• Definition of Wetlands:
  • Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life.
  • They include marshes, swamps, bogs, and shallow water bodies, both natural and artificial.
• Montreux Record:
  • A part of the Ramsar Convention, it is a register of wetlands facing changes in ecological character due to human activities or other factors.
  • Examples of Indian wetlands on the Montreux Record include Loktak Lake (Manipur) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan).
• Importance of Wetlands:
  • Wetlands act as natural water purifiers by filtering pollutants.
  • They play a key role in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration.
  • Wetlands are vital habitats for migratory birds and endangered species.
• World Wetlands Day:
  • Celebrated every year on February 2 to raise global awareness about the importance of wetlands.
  • It marks the date of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971.