UPSC Prelims 2019 Question:

Consider the following statements

1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India. 
2. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendation of Ramsar Convention. 
3. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.
   
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: 

• The Ramsar Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975, and it  deals with the protection of wetlands of international importance. It encourages the designation of sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that are important for conserving biological diversity. It is not mandatory for the Government to conserve all wetlands under Ramsar convention. So, statement 1 is not correct.
  
  
• Article 3 of the Ramsar Convention states that "The Contracting Parties shall formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands”. Hence, the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests as per the conditions of wetlands in India. So, statement 2 is not correct.
  
  
• As per Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, a "wetland" means an area or of marsh, fen, peatland or water; natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish water. It also includes all inland waters such as lakes, reservoirs, tanks, backwaters, lagoon, creeks, estuaries. So, statement 3 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Protected Areas