Ramsar sites: Vital wetlands in need of urgent Conservation

A Ramsar site is any wetland area listed ☐ Convention, which under the Ramsar aims to conserve wetlands and promote the sustainable use of their natural resources.

- Vidhi Churiwala

Established in 1971, this international treaty is the only global agreement focused exclusively on a single ecosystem. Currently, it includes 168 member countries dedicated to preserving wetlands through wise use, designating 'Wetlands of International Importance,' and collaborating on transboundary management. As of 2015, over 2,100 Ramsar sites have been designated, covering more than 208 million hectares, highlighting their ecological importance and the numerous benefits they provide to both the environment and communities.

Wetlands are defined under the Ramsar Convention as areas that are either seasonally or permanently saturated with water. This includes a variety of ecosystems, such as inland wetlands (like lakes, rivers, and marshes) and coastal wetlands (including mangroves, coral reefs).