World Wetlands Day 2025, Theme, Significance, Types

World Wetlands day 2025 is celebrated every year on 2nd February all over the world. The day was chosen as World Wetlands Day officially on 30 August, 2021 under the resolution 75/317 adopted at the UN General Assembly. The goal is to spread awareness about the importance of wetlands for humanity and the whole planet. In this article, we are going to look into the significance, objective, theme and all about wetlands in India. 

World Wetlands Day 2025 Overview 

World Wetlands Day aims to spread awareness about the wetlands and their role in balancing the ecosystem on the planet. These are areas that are covered by water, either seasonally or permanently. 

World Wetland Day 2025 Theme

World Wetland Day 2025 theme is “Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future”. The theme this year syncs with the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands. COP aims to bring representatives from contracting parties together every three years to deliberate on conservation and sustainability of wetlands and set up a work program for the next three years. 

World Wetlands Day 2025 Significance

World Wetlands Day 2025 is important due to the following reasons: 

• Commemorates the Ramsar Convention: Observed annually on February 2nd, this day marks the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, near the Caspian Sea.
• Encourages Sustainable Practices: The day emphasizes adopting sustainable methods to reduce waste and pollution, protecting the delicate ecosystems of wetlands.
• Raises Awareness: It highlights the importance of wetlands and underscores the need to conserve these vital ecosystems for the benefit of future generations. 

Wetlands- Types and Categories 

Wetlands are the areas that are covered by water mostly, that can be either seasonally and permanently. These wetlands can be divided into three categories: 

• Human-made Wetlands: These include rice paddies, salt pans, fish ponds, reservoirs etc. 
• Inland Wetlands: includes swamps, peatlands, rivers, lakes and marshes. 
• Coastal Wetlands: Includes coral reefs, lagoons, saltwater marshes and estuaries etc. 

Ramsar Sites in India Declaration Criteria

All the wetlands protected under Ramsar Convention are known as Ramsar Sites. Ramsar Sites are categorised under a high degree of protection. Currently there are 80 wetlands in India. 

To get a Ramsar Site designation, a site should be able to fulfil at least one of the nine specific criteria given under the Ramsar Convention. The nine criteria that determine a Ramsar Site are: 

• The site provides critical support to vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species, as well as threatened ecological communities.
• It represents a unique, rare, or exemplary example of a natural or near-natural wetland type within its biogeographic region.
• It hosts plant and/or animal populations vital for maintaining the biological diversity of its biogeographic region.
• The site regularly supports at least 1% of the population of a specific species or subspecies of waterbird.
• It serves as a habitat for plant and animal species at critical stages of their life cycles or as a refuge during adverse conditions.
• The site consistently supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.
• It plays a crucial role in sustaining indigenous fish species, subspecies, or populations, contributing significantly to wetland benefits, ecological interactions, and global biodiversity.
• The wetland acts as a vital source of food, spawning ground, nursery, or migration route essential for fish stocks both within and beyond the site.
• It supports at least 1% of the population of a specific wetland-dependent non-avian species or subspecies.

Ramsar Sites Importance

• Once a place comes under the Ramsar Convention, countries start focusing on conservation and wisely using the wetland. 
• The places under Ramsar Convention attract international attention and awareness hence a better contribution towards conservation efforts. 
• The site becomes a part of a protected wetland global network promoting knowledge sharing and international cooperation.

Ramsar Sites in India

• Tamil Nadu(16) has the maximum number of Ramsar Sites in India followed by Uttar Pradesh (10). 
• Ramsar Site in India having the largest area is Aghanashini Estuary, Karnataka. 
• Keoladeo National Park and Chilika Lake were the first Ramsar Sites in India.
• There are more than 2500 Ramsar Sites around the globe. 
• The United Kingdom has the maximum number of Ramsar Sites (175) followed by Mexico (142).

Latest declared Ramsar Sites in India 

The most recently wetland Ramsar sites in India are: 

• Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (Karnataka): Located near Ankasamudra village in Bellary district, this man-made village irrigation tank is home to an impressive array of biodiversity, including 210 plant species, 8 mammal species, 25 reptile species, 240 bird species, 41 fish species, 3 frog species, 27 butterfly species, and 32 flying insect species.
• Aghanashini Estuary (Karnataka): Situated where the Aghanashini River meets the Arabian Sea, this site features estuarine and shallow marine waters, rocky and pebble shores, intertidal mudflats, aquaculture ponds, and rice fields. It supports 80 fish species, 115 bird species, 45 mangrove and mangrove-associated species, and provides livelihood to 6,000 households.
• Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve (Karnataka): Located in Gadag district, this site is the largest wintering ground for the Bar-headed goose in southern India and is recognized as an Important Bird Area.
• Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): Situated in Ariyalur district, this sanctuary supports over 500 species of flora and fauna. It lies within the Central Asian Flyway, making it an essential breeding and foraging ground for water bird species.
• Longwood Shola Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu): Located in the Nilgiris district, this reserve is home to over 700 species of flora and fauna, including 177 bird species, 14 of which are endemic to the Western Ghats. The site is also notable for its rich herpetofauna diversity.