Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav on Thursday reaffirmed India’s global leadership in wetlands conservation at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Addressing the High-Level Ministerial Segment in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the Minister highlighted India’s message of “Oneness with Nature” and the country’s integrated approach to sustainable lifestyles in wetland management.
India currently hosts 91 Ramsar Sites covering 1.36 million hectares—forming Asia’s largest, and the world’s third-largest, network of protected wetlands. Over the past decade, this network has expanded by 250 percent. Yadav proudly noted that for the first time, two Indian cities—Indore and Udaipur—have been internationally recognised as Wetland Cities, underscoring the nation’s commitment to conserving urban wetlands.
The Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, referencing key environmental campaigns such as Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam. He urged the global community to embrace nature-friendly living and symbolic actions like tree plantation in honor of one’s mother.
India’s citizen-led initiatives, including Mission Sahbhagita and the Save Wetlands Campaign, have mobilised over two million people. These efforts have resulted in the mapping and boundary demarcation of over 170,000 wetlands across the country, contributing significantly to informed conservation strategies.
Yadav emphasized that India’s wetlands conservation efforts are firmly grounded in constitutional mandates, legal instruments, and policy frameworks. Wetlands are an integral part of national plans such as the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the National Wildlife Action Plan. He also highlighted India’s support for the UNEA Resolution 6/8 on promoting sustainable lifestyles, reiterating the importance of integrating such values into conservation policies.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Minister held bilateral meetings with representatives of key global environmental conventions, including the Ramsar Secretariat, CITES, and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). He also met with Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, to discuss enhanced cooperation in wetland restoration and knowledge exchange.
Highlighting India’s broader global environmental initiatives, Yadav urged international participation in platforms such as the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and global movements for sustainable living.
COP15 of the Ramsar Convention has brought together 172 contracting parties, international organisations, scientists, and civil society representatives to chart out the wetland conservation agenda for the next triennium.