By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
With 91 Ramsar (wetland) Sites (1.36 million ha), India has expanded its wetland network by 250 percent in the last one decade becoming the third largest globally and the largest in Asia, Union Environment and Forests Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday said highlighting the country’s contribution to global wetlands conservation.
He highlighted this achievement during his intervention on ‘Strengthening Policy and Legal Frameworks by Mainstreaming Wetlands Conservation’ at the High Level Ministerial Segment of COP15.
In his address, Yadav stated, “Over the past decade, we have expanded this network by 250 percent. For the first time, two Indian cities—Udaipur and Indore—have been accredited as Wetland Cities, showing India’s commitment to urban wetlands.”
Referring to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his message of “Oneness with Nature” and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, Yadav highlighted the active participation of communities through ‘Mission LiFE’ and ‘Ek ped Maa ke naam’. These visionary initiatives of the Prime Minister, he stated, supplement the efforts in protection of nature, conservation of wetlands flora and fauna, abating degradation and erosion of soil. The Minister invited all to plant a tree in the name of mother and advised all to adopt Mission LiFE i.e environment friendly lifestyle.
Aligned with this, India’s ‘Mission Sahbhagita’ and the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ have mobilised more than 2 million citizens, resulting in the ground-truthing of over 170,000 wetlands and the boundary demarcation of nearly 100,000 wetlands across the country.
The Minister emphasized that wetland conservation in India is deeply rooted in constitutional, legal, and policy frameworks. The Indian Constitution encapsulates this spirit by mandating the State and citizens to protect and conserve the environment and to safeguard forests and wildlife. Conservation of wetlands has been mainstreamed in India’s sectoral plans and programmes, including, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, National Wildlife Action Plan.
During the visit, the Minister also engaged in bilateral meetings with the heads of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). A meeting was also held with the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Zimbabwe, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, to advance cooperation on wetland restoration and knowledge exchange.
The Minister further highlighted the importance of India’s Global Environmental Initiatives to advance climate action and biodiversity conservation through international partnerships, such as the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), International Solar Alliance (ISA), and Sustainable Lifestyles and requested to join these international initiatives.
The Ramsar COP15 brings together 172 Contracting Parties, International Organisation Partners, scientific institutions, civil society, and community representatives to agree on work programme and budgetary arrangements for the next triennium and consider guidance on a range of ongoing and emerging environmental issues. India’s active participation at COP15 underscores its unwavering commitment to wetlands conservation, climate leadership, and advancing the principles of ecological sustainability and intergenerational equity.