Question

UPSC Prelims 2014 Question:

Q. If a wetland of international importance is brought under the 'Montreux Record', what does it imply?

1. Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference.
2. The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any human activity within five kilometers from the edge of the wetland.
3. The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed.
4. It is given the status of 'World Heritage Site'.

Option 1: Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference.

Explanation:

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation 4.8 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990). Resolution 5.4 of the Conference (1993) determined that the Montreux Record should be employed to identify priority sites for positive national and international conservation attention. The Parties believe that “the voluntary inclusion of a particular site on the Montreux Record is a useful tool available to Contracting Parties in circumstances where:
- demonstrating a national commitment to resolve the adverse changes would assist in their resolution;
- highlighting particularly serious cases would be beneficial at national and/or international level;
- positive national and international conservation attention would benefit the site; and/or
- inclusion on the Record would provide guidance in the allocation of resources available under financial mechanisms.

Therefore, option (1) is the correct answer.

Montreux Record Sites in India:

Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) - listed in 1990 because of management problems associated with water shortage and an unbalanced grazing regime).
Chilka Lake (Odisha) - listed in 1993 because of problems caused by shrinkage, siltation, and sedimentation; choking of the mouth, decrease in bird migration and fishery potential, weed infestation and pollution). However, due to the successful restoration of the lake ecosystem by the Chilika Development Authority, it was removed from the Montreux Record in 2002.
Loktak Lake (Manipur) - listed in 1993 because of problems caused by deforestation in the catchment area, infestation of water hyacinth, and pollution).