The goal of Amrit Dharohar is to promote unique conservation values of Ramsar sites and its implementation strategy is centred around four components such as Species and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihoods, and Wetlands Carbon Assessment. The component of species and habitat conservation inter alia provides for preparation of Integrated Management Plans (IMPs) for Ramsar sites. The activities like, deweeding, desilting, pollution control and abatement are part of IMP. So far, IMPs for 14 Ramsar sites have been prepared. Under the Swachhta Special Campaign 3.0 from October 2nd - 31st, 2023, MoEFCC in association with State/UT Wetland Authorities organised wetlands cleaning around different Amrit Dharohar sites i.e. Ramsar sites, across the country.
World Wetlands Day (WWD) is observed on 2nd February every year worldwide to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1971. World Wetlands Day aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and planet.
On the occasion of World Wetland Day 2023, MoEF&CC launched the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ (SWC) on 4th February 2023 aligning with the theme ‘Wetlands restoration’. The objective of this campaign is to create mass awareness about the importance of wetland conservation and management while actively involving local communities in the integrated management and monitoring of wetlands across the country and getting community-based organisations, line departments, and knowledge partners to join hands to save the wetlands. The World Wetlands Day 2024, organised at Sirpur Ramsar Site in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on 2nd February 2024, marked the conclusion of the year-long ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’. Under this campaign, more than 1.9 million people have been sensitised about wetlands conservation through participatory approach. More than 75,000 ground truthing of wetlands have been done, health cards for more than 5,800 wetlands have been prepared and more than 17,000 Wetland Mitras have been registered under the aforesaid campaign.
An exhibition was organised on the occasion of WWD 2024, with participation from about 25 exhibitors representing different States, technical organisations, Govt. departments, which included stalls focusing on wetland products, wetland tourism, wetland livelihoods, Mission LiFE, Green Skill Building Programme, etc., to showcase the widespread impact of ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ run by MoEF&CC throughout the year with active participation from all States/ UTs.
During the event, number of knowledge products on conservation of wetlands were also released. All wetland authorities of states/UTs also organised various events in their respective states/UTs also on the occasion of WWD 2024. Further, on the eve of World Wetlands Day 2024, five more wetlands have been designated as Ramsar sites taking the total tally of Ramsar sites in the country from 75 to 80.
