Geography

List of Important Wetlands in India, Ramsar Convention, World Wetlands Day, Montreux Record

Wetlands are identified as one of the most useful natural resource systems. India’s wetlands are distributed in different geographical regions ranging from the cold arid zone of Ladakh to the wet humid climate of Imphal; the warm arid zone of Rajasthan to tropical monsoon Central India, and the wet humid zone of the southern peninsula.

What are Wetlands?

Defined as – “Areas of marshes, fen, peat-land or water whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary with water, that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt including areas of marine water, the depth of which does not exceed six metres”.

Importance of Wetlands

A number of physio-chemical and biological processes occur in a wetland like sedimentation, storage, ion exchange, nutrient uptake, absorption, adsorption, bacterial and fungal dissemination, nitrification, etc. Apart from harbouring birds, wetlands are also a nursery ground for several species of fish and shell fish and a wide variety of aquatic organisms.

For example, Chilka in Orissa, has dolphins who move around in the area where the lake meets the sea. Coastal wetlands especially being an ecotone between the sea and fresh water, and/or freshwater and terrestrial habitats have high specie diversity. Wetlands perform the following functions:

  • Provide habitat for a wide variety and number of wildlife and plants
  • Filter, clean and store water – acting like kidneys for other ecosystems
  • Act like sponges by holding flood waters and keeping rivers at normal levels.
  • Absorb wind and tidal forces.
  • Provide places of beauty and many recreational activities
  • Wetlands also filter and purify water as it flows through the wetland system.
  • Plants found in wetlands help control water erosion.

What is Ramsar Convention and Montreux Record ?

It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the Caspian Sea. The Convention on Wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Known officially as ‘the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat’ (or, more recently, just ‘the Convention on Wetlands’), it came into force in 1975.

There are presently 172 Contracting Parties to the Convention (as of October 2026).

Note that: Ramsar Convention is the only global environment treaty dealing with a particular ecosystem.

Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is
maintained as a part of the Ramsar List.

The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990). Sites may be added to and removed from the Record only with the approval of the Contracting Parties.

World Wetlands Day

Celebrated every year on 2nd February, marking the date of the adoption of Convention on Wetlands in 1971.

India is a party to the Convention since 1982 and committed to the Ramsar approach of wise use of wetlands.

    • The theme of World Wetlands Day for 2018 is “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future“. The 2018 theme marks the role of healthy wetlands play in making cities and towns livable, through their role in groundwater recharge, buffering floods, filtering wastewater, enhancing landscape aesthetics, providing income generation opportunities and ultimately supporting well-being.
    • World Wetlands Day (WWD), 2018 was celebrated in India at Deepor Beel, a Ramsar Site in Guwahati.

List of Wetlands in India

India presently has 103 wetlands designated as Ramsar sites (as of October 2026). Together they cover over 13.87 lakh hectares.

  1. Ashtamudi Wetland, Kerala
  2. Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Orissa
  3. Bhoj Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
  4. Chandertal Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
  5. Chilika Lake, Orissa
  6. Deepor Beel, Assam
  7. East Calcutta Wetlands, West Bengal
  8. Harike Lake, Punjab
  9. Hokera Wetland, Jammu & Kashmir
  10. Kanjli, Punjab
  11. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan
  12. Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh
  13. Loktak Lake, Manipur
  14. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
  15. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  16. Pong Dam Lake, Himachal Pradesh
  17. Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
  18. Ropar, Punjab
  19. Rudrasagar Lake, Tripura
  20. Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan
  21. Sasthamkotta Lake, Kerala
  22. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Jammu & Kashmir
  23. Tsomoriri, Ladakh
  24. Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch), Uttar Pradesh
  25. Vembanad-Kol Wetland, Kerala
  26. Wular Lake, Jammu & Kashmir
  27. Sundarban Wetland, West Bengal
  28. Nandur Madhameshwar, Maharashtra
  29. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
  30. Sarsai Nawar Jheel, Uttar Pradesh
  31. Beas Conservation Reserve, Punjab
  32. Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve, Punjab
  33. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab
  34. Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
  35. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
  36. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
  37. Saman Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
  38. Kabartal Wetland, Bihar
  39. Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand
  40. Lonar Lake, Maharashtra
  41. Sur Sarovar, Uttar Pradesh
  42. Tso Kar Wetland Complex, Ladakh
  43. Wadhvana Wetland, Gujarat
  44. Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
  45. Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
  46. Haiderpur Wetland, Uttar Pradesh
  47. Sultanpur National Park, Haryana
  48. Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana
  49. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
  50. Pala Wetland, Mizoram
  51. Satkosia Gorge, Odisha
  52. Tampara Lake, Odisha
  53. Hirakud Reservoir, Odisha
  54. Ansupa Lake, Odisha
  55. Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  56. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  57. Sirpur Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
  58. Sakhya Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
  59. Yashwant Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
  60. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka
  61. Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  62. Pichavaram Mangrove, Tamil Nadu
  63. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
  64. Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu
  65. Vembannur Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
  66. Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  67. Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  68. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  69. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
  70. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  71. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  72. Thane Creek, Maharashtra
  73. Nanda Lake, Goa
  74. Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu & Kashmir
  75. Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu & Kashmir
  76. Aghanashini Estuary, Karnataka
  77. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
  78. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
  79. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  80. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
  81. Nagi Bird Sanctuary, Bihar
  82. Nakti Bird Sanctuary, Bihar
  83. Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary, Jharkhand
  84. Tawa Reservoir, Madhya Pradesh
  85. Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  86. Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  87. Khecheopalri Wetland, Sikkim
  88. Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  89. Therthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
  90. Menar Wetland Complex, Rajasthan
  91. Khichan Wetland, Rajasthan
  92. Gokul Jalashay, Bihar
  93. Udaipur Jheel, Bihar
  94. Gogabil Lake, Bihar
  95. Chhari Dhand, Gujarat
  96. Siliserh Lake, Rajasthan
  97. Kopra Jalashay, Chhattisgarh
  98. Patna Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
  99. Sheikha Jheel Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
  100. Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal), Uttar Pradesh
  101. Glaw Lake, Arunachal Pradesh
  102. Sukhna Wetland, Chandigarh
  103. Sauj Jheel, Uttar Pradesh

Major issues pertaining to wetlands in India

Wetlands in India account for 4.7% of the total geographical area. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is the nodal Ministry for wetlands conservation and has been supporting the State Governments/ Union Territories since 1985, in design and implementation of Management Action Plans for conservation and management of wetlands including Ramsar sites.

According to National Disaster Management Authority, over 40 million hectares which means 12% of land in India is prone to floods and river erosion.

  • Illegal land reclamation
  • Dumping of solid and non degradable waste
  • Government attempt to set up sewerage plant in wetland areas.
  • Silatation occurs as aresult of denudation of forest and shrublands due to increased human activity in the catchment area.
  • Pollution from habitations on the periphery of lakes find their way inside, damaging the flora and the fauna. The Pulicat lake in Andhra Pradesh, which used to be an important centre of breeding water birds, has now become threatened due to chemical pollution.
  • Shrinkage of area – Due to encroachment of the peripheral area, the lake area gets reduced. These encroachments may be for pisciculturc or aqua culture as in Chilka lake, or due to human encroachment like in The famous Dal lake in Srinagar has been shrinking due to human encroachment.

It is noteworthy that, 17 wetlands has been identified in India on the verge of extinction.

Further reading for the curious: Atlas of Wetlandsh (refer Page 6)