14th Conference of the Parties to Ramsar Convention

Why in the News?

The Wuhan Declaration was adopted at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP14) in Wuhan (China).

Key Points:

About Wuhan declaration:

• The declaration calls for “strong will and practical actions” to promote the conservation, restoration, and management of wetlands worldwide.
• Incorporate wetlands into national actions to contribute to domestic legislation, plans, and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. 

About Ramsar Convention: 

• Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971.
• It provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• It is an area where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season.

Criteria for Ramsar Site:

• It must meet at least one of nine criteria as defined by the Ramsar Convention of 1971.
• Such as supporting vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities or, 
• If it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds or, 
• An important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery, and/or migration path on which fish stocks are dependent upon.

Significance of Ramsar Site designation:

• Tourism potential
• Invite extra International Funds
• Conserved and spared from man-made encroachment

State with a maximum area of wetlands: 

•  Gujarat has the maximum area followed by Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.