Two New Wetlands Added to India’s Ramsar Network

India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr Bhupender Yadav, announced the addition of two new wetlands to India’s Ramsar network, ahead of World Wetlands Day.

The Minister stated in a post on the social media platform ‘X’ that the Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch district of Gujarat have been added to the Ramsar list.

Mr Yadav noted that India’s Ramsar network has expanded by more than 276%, from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 sites today. He stated that the international recognition reflects India’s strong commitment to protecting the environment and conserving its wetlands.

The Minister informed that the two wetlands provide habitat to hundreds of migratory and resident bird species. The areas also support wildlife such as chinkara, wolves, caracals, desert cats, and desert foxes, as well as endangered birds.

Responding to a post by Minister Yadav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the designation of the Ramsar sites. 

Congratulating the local population and all those passionate about wetland conservation, Mr Modi stated that these recognitions reaffirm our commitment to preserving biodiversity and protecting vital ecosystems. 

India is one of the Contracting Parties to the ‘Convention on Wetlands’, known as the Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. India became a signatory to the convention on 1st February 1982.

Wetlands of particular conservation value can be designated as Wetlands of International Importance. These sites are significant because they serve as models of the nation’s commitment to conservation and management under internationally accepted frameworks.

In July 2025, at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention in Zimbabwe, Minister Yadav emphasised that wetland conservation in India is deeply rooted in constitutional, legal, and policy frameworks.

He noted that the Indian Constitution encapsulates this spirit by mandating that the State and citizens protect and conserve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.

Conservation of wetlands has been mainstreamed in India’s sectoral plans and programmes, including the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and National Wildlife Action Plan.

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Watch this video on the Imprortance of Wetlands.