New Delhi: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav highlighted the vital role of wetlands in sustaining ecosystems, communities, culture and livelihoods, saying that “water is life and wetlands are the lifelines of the planet.”
He made these remarks on the occasion of World Wetlands Day 2026, saying India has placed communities and cultural heritage at the centre of its wetland conservation efforts.
India’s Ramsar network has expanded significantly, from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 sites today, making the country a leader in Asia in terms of wetlands of international importance.
To mark World Wetlands Day, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organised a special event at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi on the theme ‘Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage’.
The event focused on the importance of wetlands and the crucial role played by traditional knowledge systems and local communities in their conservation.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said wetlands are not merely water resources but are deeply woven into people’s daily lives.
He noted that wetlands have long been connected with culture, festivals and religious sentiments and traditionally served as spaces for social interaction, especially for children and local communities.
The Minister expressed happiness over the growing involvement of the younger generation in wetland conservation and stressed that environmental protection cannot rely solely on rules and regulations. “Conservation must become a people’s movement,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Singh, in a post on X, highlighted the ecological and cultural importance of the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh, one of India’s 98 Ramsar sites. He said the wetland supports numerous native and migratory bird species and holds deep cultural and personal significance for local communities.
A video teaser on the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary was also launched during the event, offering a glimpse into the delicate ecological balance of the wetland and the interconnected web of life it sustains.
Delhi Environment Minister Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that while wetlands play a crucial role in daily life, rapid urbanisation, encroachments and other human activities have taken a heavy toll on them. He said the Delhi government has set a target to restore the city’s water bodies within the next two years.
Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Tanmay Kumar, emphasised that environmental protection is not possible without active community participation.
He said initiatives such as Wetland Mitras have had a direct impact on conserving wetlands and safeguarding the environment, culture and livelihoods of people living around them. The increase in Ramsar sites since 2014, he added, reflects rising public awareness about wetland conservation.
The event began with the inauguration of an exhibition showcasing institutions and organisations working in the fields of wetlands, biodiversity and environmental conservation. States with newly designated Ramsar Sites were also felicitated.
During the programme, the Ministry released a document titled “Cultural Wonders of Ramsar Sites”, highlighting the lesser-known cultural significance of Ramsar Sites and their role in preserving intangible cultural heritage linked to wetlands.
The Ministers also interacted with Wetland Mitras and school children to promote awareness and encourage public participation. The event concluded with a plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, reinforcing the message of environmental responsibility.
World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2 to commemorate the adoption of the Ramsar Convention in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. India became a signatory to the convention on February 1, 1982, and today leads Asia with 98 wetlands of international importance.
