Centre notifies new Wetland Conservation Rules

News: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has put forward Guidelines for implementing Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017

Facts:

Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017

Key Features:

• Prohibits conversion for non-wetland uses, setting up or expansion of industries in wetland areas.
• Prohibits disposal of construction and demolition waste within the wetlands.
• Each state and Union Territory will have to set up wetland authority that will define strategies for wetlands conservation.
• The authority should also enhance awareness among stakeholders and local communities.

Additional Information:

1. Wetland: It is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, and it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem.
2.  Ramsar Sites: It is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. There are 27 Ramsar Wetland Sites in India
3. Ramsar Convention on Wetland (1971): It 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.
4. Montreux Record: It is a register of wetland sites on the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance. It shows such sites where there has been or likely to be adverse ecological changes due to anthropogenic activities. Indian sites in the Montreux Record are Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), Loktak Lake (Manipur).

Did you know? 2nd February of each year is celebrated as World Wetlands Day to mark the date of adoption of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. 2020 Theme is “Wetlands and Biodiversity”