On the occasion of World Wetland Day 2025, MP and former Union Minister for Environment, Jairam Ramesh appealed to the nation to enhance the “Quality over Quantity” of wetland conservation, but he chose improvement in the quality of Ramsar sites instead of increasing the number. All these are necessary for their sustainable protection as natural ecosystems.
Jairam Ramesh spoke to over 70 policymakers, conservationists, and researchers at the event organized by Wetlands International South Asia at the India International Centre in New Delhi. The event marked the 54th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention international treaty for wetland conservation.
Jairam Ramesh acknowledged the country’s progress since signing the Ramsar Convention in 1982 while emphasizing that much more still needs to be done today. He picked Deepor Beel and Kolleru Lake as examples, citing encroachment and pollution as major drawbacks. Ramesh emphasized governance and scientific input led by local communities to be crucial for their protection.
Wetlands in Sustainable Development
There was a panel discussion on “Wetlands and Sustainable Development” with experts from IUCN-India, WWF-India, and the National Biodiversity Authority. The panelists presented to the forum the role of wetlands in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods. Experts suggested intersectoral coordination, policy harmonization, and active citizen involvement to better conserve wetlands.
Need for Stronger Legal Frameworks and Local Engagement
Reiterating the theme of the event, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” Ramesh said legal protection needs to be strengthened and local community participation increased. He said India has developed scientific knowledge and implemented legal measures such as the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 but practical conservation efforts need improvement.
According to Ramesh, four critical issues are undermining wetlands; these include key threats such as Industrial and human effluents polluting the water bodies, Municipal pressures by urban expansion, Lack of involvement of the communities in conservation, and Inadequate scientific studies to inform policies and management.
Jairam Ramesh challenged the policymakers to vest powers in the local communities and claimed that these people are the best custodians of the wetlands.
Experts Call for Better Incentives for Private Wetland Owners
Vishaish Uppal of WWF-India, citing Jairam Ramesh, stated that private owners reportedly own 40% of India’s wetlands and emphasized that private wetland owners have no reason to conserve them. He added that conservation efforts should be clearer and community-driven. Wetland Protection should be more of a Shared Responsibility.
The event also unveiled several critical publications, which are A training manual on water quality for wetland conservation, A report on the estimation of peatland in India, which outlines the scope of carbon storage in wetlands and mitigation through climate change, and India’s Way Forward on Wetland Conservation.
World Wetlands Day 2025 passed with a consensus among conservationists that India needs to shift towards a more holistic approach. Moreover, they emphasized the importance of strengthening legal measures and increasing outreach to the community in order to effectively conserve its wetlands for posterity.