When was Ramsar Convention developed and adopted and when did it come into force?
Answers
Explanation:
What are wetlands and why do we need to conserve them?
Popularly known as nature’s kidneys that purify the environment, wetlands are a vital part of the hydrological cycle. Wetlands not only support large biological diversity but also provide a wide range of ecosystem services such as soil erosion control, flood mitigation, agriculture, water purification, water assimilation, groundwater recharge and much more.
Most importantly, wetlands play a major role as a source of freshwater and encompass diverse assemblage of habitats. They are home for a variety of creatures including birds and serves as temporary homes for migratory birds. They perform manifold functions in the maintenance of the ecological balance. However, these fragile ecosystems are susceptible to damage and are getting exploited by the humans’ ever-growing greed and hence, are in grave danger of extinction.
What is the Ramsar Convention?
Recognizing the importance of protecting such water bodies, the Government of India became a Contracting Party to the only international treaty primarily focused on protecting Wetlands – “Ramsar Convention – The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat” adopted on 2nd February 1971 and came into force in 1975.
The Ramsar Convention (popularly known as Wetlands Convention) defines wetlands in a very broad sense. According to the Convention, wetlands are “areas of marsh, fen, peatland 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 at low tide does not exceed six meters”. In simple words, wetlands include areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water. They may be natural or artificial. They may be permanent or temporary. The water in wetlands may be static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt.
The basic tenets of the treaty text have been developed and interpreted by the Conference of the Contracting Parties. The developments and changes are made taking into consideration the environmental impact that those changes/developments would bring forth.
Answer:
Recognizing the importance of protecting such water bodies, the Government of India became a Contracting Party to the only international treaty primarily focused on protecting Wetlands – “Ramsar Convention – The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat” adopted on 2nd February .
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