• India celebrated World Wetlands Day with the theme Wetlands and traditional knowledge, notably adding two new Ramsar sites—Patna Bird Sanctuary (UP) and Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat)—bringing the national total to 98.

Wetlands: What it is?

• Wetlands are land areas saturated or flooded with water, either permanently or seasonally. They act as national public goods because they provide essential services—like flood control and water purification—that benefit the entire community and cannot be easily restricted to private owners.

Key Characteristics of Wetlands:

• Hydrology: Presence of water at or near the soil surface for at least part of the year.
• Hydric Soils: Soils developed under anaerobic (low oxygen) conditions due to prolonged saturation.
• Hydrophytes: Specialized vegetation, such as mangroves or reeds, adapted to grow in water-logged soil.
• Ecotone Status: They serve as transition zones (buffer areas) between dry land and deep-water aquatic systems.

Status of Wetlands in India:

• Ramsar Network: India now has 98 Ramsar sites (as of Feb 2026), the highest in South Asia.
• Geographical Spread: Wetlands cover approximately 5% of India’s land area (around 15.9 million hectares).
• Rate of Loss: India has lost nearly 40% of its natural wetlands over the last three decades due to urbanization.
• Leading State: Tamil Nadu holds the highest number of Ramsar sites (20) in the country.

Importance of Wetlands as a Public Good:

• Flood Mitigation: They act as natural sponges, absorbing excess monsoon runoff.
• E.g. Deepor Beel (Assam) absorbs nearly 40% of the Brahmaputra’s overflow, protecting Guwahati from devastating floods.

• Water Purification: Wetlands filter out nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals.
• E.g. The East Kolkata Wetlands naturally treat 750 million liters of sewage daily, saving the city crores in treatment costs.

• Climate Resilience: They store massive amounts of carbon and act as bio-shields.
• E.g. During Cyclone Dana (2024), the Bhitarkanika Mangroves (Odisha) reduced wind speeds, shielding inland villages from damage.

• Livelihood Security: Millions depend on wetlands for fishing, agriculture, and fodder.
• E.g. The Kuttanad (Kerala) wetland system supports below-sea-level farming, producing over 6 lakh tonnes of rice annually.

• Biodiversity Hotspots: They support 40% of the world’s species, including rare migratory birds.
• E.g. Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat) serves as a critical breeding ground for the endangered Desert Fox and thousands of Flamingos.

Threats and Challenges:

• Urban Encroachment: Rapid real estate growth often involves filling wetlands for construction.
• E.g. Pallikaranai Marsh (Chennai) has shrunk significantly due to high-rise townships and infrastructure projects.

• Pollution and Dumping: Wetlands are frequently treated as wastelands for solid waste and sewage.
• E.g. Ashtamudi Lake (Kerala) saw mass fish kills in late 2025 due to industrial effluents and organic waste dumping.

• Hydrological Disruption: Dams and sand mining block the natural flow of water into these basins.
• E.g. Harike Wetland (Punjab) has seen its area reduced as nearly 60% of its surroundings were converted to paddy fields.

• Invasive Species: Non-native plants choke native biodiversity and reduce water capacity.
• E.g. Water Hyacinth covers nearly 40% of Loktak Lake (Manipur), severely impacting fish yields and local navigation.

• Climate Change: Rising sea levels and salinity threaten coastal and high-altitude systems.
• E.g. Sundarbans (West Bengal) is losing mangrove cover due to increasing salinity and frequent high-intensity cyclones.

List of Ramsar sites Declared in past 2 years:

Way Forward:

• Notification and Demarcation: Legally notify all wetland boundaries and make maps public to prevent illegal land conversion.
• Watershed-Scale Governance: Shift from isolated projects to managing wetlands as part of a whole river basin or catchment area.
• Capacity Building: Launch a national mission to train managers in GIS, hydrology, and community-led restoration.
• Mainstreaming Traditional Knowledge: Incorporate ancient practices, like the Kenis of Wayanad, into modern water management plans.
• Nature-Based Infrastructure: Integrate wetlands into Smart City planning as flood buffers rather than choosing grey concrete solutions.

Conclusion:

• Wetlands are not just scenic spots but the biological kidneys of our nation. By moving from beautification to ecological functionality, India can ensure its water security and climate resilience. The future of our cities and villages depends on treating these vibrant ecosystems as a shared heritage rather than disposable land.