Wetland City Accreditation scheme

Context

∙ India has nominated Indore, Bhopal and Udaipur for the Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) scheme under the Ramsar Convention.

About

∙ These are the first three Indian cities nominated for WCA based on the proposals received from state wetlands authorities in collaboration with municipal corporations.

∙ Sirpur Wetland (Indore), Yashwant Sagar (Indore), Bhoj Wetland (Bhopal), and several wetlands in and around Udaipur are lifelines to these cities.

∙ This will provide an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition.

Wetland City Accreditation scheme:

∙ The Wetland City Accreditation scheme is an ongoing program administered by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

∙ The scheme was implemented in 2015 under Resolution XII.

Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP12).

∙ Purpose: To recognize and honor cities demonstrating outstanding efforts in protecting and managing their urban wetlands.

Significance:

∙ This voluntary scheme provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.

∙ The scheme will encourage cities in close proximity to and dependent on wetlands, to highlight and strengthen a positive relationship with these valuable ecosystems.

∙ The Accreditation scheme should further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local people.

∙ Overall, 43 cities in the world are accredited as wetlands cities under Ramsar Convention.

∙ Of these 18 were accredited in 2018 and 25 in 2022. However, India is yet to make it to the prestigious list.