India has nominated three cities for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, according to a statement by the environment ministry on Thursday. The cities are Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Udaipur (Rajasthan).
The nominations were based on proposals from respective state wetlands authorities in collaboration with municipal corporations. The WCA scheme aims to promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, providing sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav shared the news the social media platform X, stating that it offers an opportunity for cities valuing their wetlands to gain international recognition and positive branding for their efforts.
https://x.com/byadavbjp/status/1742911902601380069?s=20
The wetlands around these cities offer various benefits such as flood regulation, livelihood opportunities, and cultural values. Examples include Sirpur wetland in Indore, Yashwant Sagar near Indore, Bhoj wetland in Bhopal, and multiple lakes in and around Udaipur.
Indore’s Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar site, is crucial for water bird congregation and is being developed into a bird sanctuary. Bhopal’s Bhoj wetland features a world-class interpretation center for increasing environmental awareness among visitors, and a lake conservation cell. Udaipur is surrounded by major wetlands like Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai, contributing to the city’s culture and identity while providing a buffer from extreme events.
The Ramsar Convention approved the voluntary Wetland City Accreditation system during COP12 in 2015. It recognizes cities taking exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands. The WCA scheme promotes the conservation of urban and peri-urban wetlands and aims to provide socio-economic benefits for local populations.
The accreditation encourages cities close to and dependent on wetlands to develop positive relationships with these ecosystems. The voluntary scheme allows cities valuing their wetlands to gain international recognition and positive branding for their efforts in establishing strong positive relationships with wetlands.