Important Facts For Prelims
World Wetlands Day 2025
- 03 Feb 2025
- 4 min read
Why in News?
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised the World Wetlands Day 2025 celebrations at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, Gonda, Uttar Pradesh (UP) on 2nd February 2025.
What are the Key Facts Regarding World Wetlands Day 2025?
- About: It is observed annually to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and marks the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
- Theme for 2025: Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future.
- New Ramsar Sites: Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand, Theerthangal and Sakkarakottai in Tamil Nadu and Khecheopalri in Sikkim are included in the list of Ramsar sites.
- These are the first Ramsar Sites of Sikkim and Jharkhand.
- With this, Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) in India increased to 89.
- Tamil Nadu continues to have the maximum number of Ramsar Sites (20 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
- New Corridor: The government announced a new nature-culture tourism corridor will be developed between Ayodhya and Devi Patan in UP.
- Amrit Dharohar Initiative: Amrit Dharohar was launched in June 2023 to conserve Ramsar Sites that focuses on four key components i.e., Species and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihood and Wetlands Carbon.
- Threat: The biggest threat to wetlands is pollution from industrial and human effluents, which degrade these ecosystems.
What are Key Facts About Parvati Arga Ramsar Site?
- About: It is a permanent freshwater environment, consisting of two oxbow lakes i.e., Parvati and Arga, which are rain-fed and located in the terai region (Gangetic plains).
- The nearby Tikri Forest is also being developed as an eco-tourism site.
- Oxbow lakes are U-shaped lakes formed when a meander of a river is cut off, creating a standalone water body.
- Ecological Significance: It is a refuge for critically endangered white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, and endangered Egyptian vulture.
- Migratory birds like Eurasian coots, mallards, greylag geese, northern pintails, and red-crested pochards visit the site in the winter months.
- Invasive Species: It faces threats from invasive species, notably the common water hyacinth.
- Cultural Landmarks: The region is home to cultural landmarks such as the birthplaces of Maharishi Patanjali and Goswami Tulsidas, boosting religious and cultural tourism.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims
Q. If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?(2014)
(a) Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference
(b) The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any human activity within five kilometres from the edge of the wetland
(c) The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed
(d) It is given the status of ‘World Heritage Site’
Ans: (a)
