Q. Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India’s wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites.

Model Answer: 

Initiated in 1985-86, the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) laid the foundational policy framework for protecting India’s vital wetland ecosystems from ecological degradation.

1. Evaluation of the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP)

1. Core Objective: Aimed to halt wetland degradation and promote “wise use” for sustained ecological balance.
2. Financial Framework: Operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, granting technical and financial aid to State Governments.
3. Management Action Plans (MAPs): Facilitated site-specific interventions (catchment area treatment, de-weeding, and pollution abatement).
4. Institutional Evolution (2013): Merged with the National Lake Conservation Plan to form the unified National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA).
5. Regulatory Synergy: Later complemented by the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017, strictly decentralizing wetland regulation to States.

2. India’s Wetlands of International Importance (Key Ramsar Sites)

With 80+ Ramsar sites, India holds a prominent position globally. Key internationally recognized wetlands include:

1. Chilika Lake (Odisha): Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon; successfully restored and removed from the Montreux Record.
2. Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan): Critical wintering ground for Palearctic migratory birds; currently listed in the Montreux Record.
3. Loktak Lake (Manipur): Famous for floating phumdis (Keibul Lamjao National Park) and endangered Sangai deer; on the Montreux Record.
4. Sundarbans Wetland (West Bengal): Globally largest mangrove ecosystem serving as a vital cyclonic disaster buffer.
5. Ashtamudi Wetland (Kerala): Palm-shaped deep estuarine system, internationally renowned for its sustainable clam fishery.
6. Wular Lake (J&K): India’s largest freshwater lake, crucial for regulating the hydrology of the Jhelum basin.

Building on the NWCP’s legacy, India’s wetland conservation is now being dynamically accelerated through the Amrit Dharohar Yojana, promoting optimal ecological utilization, community-led eco-tourism, and climate resilience.