Yadav Highlights India’s Commitment to Wetland Conservation at Ramsar Summit

India reaffirmed its global leadership in environmental stewardship and wetlands protection at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention, currently underway at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from July 23 to 31, 2025. Leading the Indian delegation, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, delivered a strong message of India's environmental commitment during the High-Level Ministerial Segment of the conference.

India: A Global Leader in Wetland Conservation

In his address on “Strengthening Policy and Legal Frameworks by Mainstreaming Wetlands Conservation”, Shri Yadav spotlighted India’s exceptional progress in wetlands conservation. He proudly noted that India now has 91 Ramsar Sites, covering 1.36 million hectares, making it the largest wetlands network in Asia and the third-largest globally. He emphasized that this growth—a 250% expansion over the last decade—is a direct result of comprehensive legal reforms, citizen engagement, and political will.

For the first time, two Indian cities—Udaipur and Indore—have received Wetland City Accreditation, a recognition bestowed by the Ramsar Convention, affirming India's holistic approach to protecting wetlands in urban settings.

Community Engagement and Sustainable Lifestyles

Shri Yadav stressed that India’s conservation efforts are people-driven and align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global vision of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family) and “Oneness with Nature.” These principles are the philosophical underpinnings of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), a global initiative to promote environmentally responsible living.

He also invited global delegates to support the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, encouraging each individual to plant a tree in honor of their mother—a symbolic yet powerful act of personal environmental commitment.

Mission Sahbhagita and Save Wetlands Campaign: A Citizen-Led Movement

The Minister highlighted India’s unique initiative, Mission Sahbhagita, which has galvanized over 2 million citizens in wetland conservation activities. Complementing this effort is the Save Wetlands Campaign, which has successfully:

• Ground-truthed over 170,000 wetlands nationwide

• Demarcated boundaries for nearly 100,000 wetlands

• Created a data-driven framework for wetlands management

These efforts represent a paradigm shift toward community ownership of natural resources, supported by scientific and institutional mechanisms.

Legal and Policy Integration of Wetland Conservation

Shri Yadav emphasized that wetland conservation is deeply embedded in India’s constitutional mandate, as well as its national legal and policy frameworks. He referred to the inclusion of wetland protection in key national documents such as:

• National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

• National Wildlife Action Plan

• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017

He further highlighted the integration of UNEA Resolution 6/8, which promotes sustainable lifestyles, into India’s conservation programming. The mainstreaming of these values is evident in India’s proactive, ecosystem-based approach to biodiversity preservation.

Global Cooperation and Bilateral Engagements

During his visit, Shri Yadav held bilateral discussions with leaders of major multilateral environmental agreements including:

• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

• CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species)

• Ramsar Convention Secretariat

He also met with Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, to explore avenues for bilateral cooperation in wetland restoration, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.

India’s Global Environmental Diplomacy

India continues to champion global environmental causes through ambitious multilateral partnerships, which Shri Yadav encouraged all nations to join. These include:

• International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

• Mission LiFE

These initiatives reflect India’s strategic vision to merge climate resilience with biodiversity protection in a manner that promotes sustainability, inclusion, and intergenerational equity.

Ramsar COP15: Shaping the Future of Global Wetlands

With 172 Contracting Parties, the Ramsar COP15 serves as a global platform for dialogue on wetland conservation, biodiversity loss, and climate resilience. The conference is deliberating on:

• Work programme and financial arrangements for 2026–2028

• Scientific updates and policy tools for wetland conservation

• Emerging challenges such as climate-induced wetland loss

India’s robust participation at COP15 underscores its commitment to environmental multilateralism and its role as a key voice for the Global South in ecological governance.

A Blueprint for Global Action

India's message at Ramsar COP15 is clear: conservation must be inclusive, rooted in tradition, driven by science, and scaled through international partnerships. With bold initiatives like Mission LiFE, Save Wetlands Campaign, and Mission Sahbhagita, India is offering the world a replicable and scalable model for wetland protection and climate adaptation.

As Shri Yadav concluded, “India stands ready to share its learnings, build global partnerships, and lead the way in sustainable ecosystem restoration.”