What are wetlands?

Wetlands
As per Article 1 of the wetlands include a wide variety of
Convention inland habitats such as marshes,
“wetlands are areas of marsh, peatlands, floodplains, rivers and lakes,
fen, peatland or water, and
whether natural or artificial, coastal areas such as saltmarshes,
permanent or temporary, mangroves, intertidal mudflats and
with water that is static or seagrass beds, and also coral reefs and
flowing, other marine areas, as well as
fresh, brackish or salt, human made wetlands such as dams,
including areas of marine water reservoirs, rice paddies and wastewater
the depth of which at low tide treatment ponds and lagoons.
does not exceed six metres”
Five major wetland types are generally National Wetlands Atlas (Space
recognized: Applications Centre, Ahmedabad)
• marine (coastal wetlands including India has 15.26 million ha area
under wetlands (4.6% of its land).
coastal lagoons, rocky shores, seagrass Of this, Inland wetlands constitute
beds and coral reefs); 69.22%. Nearly 12% of the inland
• estuarine (including deltas, tidal wetland area is in the form of lakes
marshes and mudflats, and mangrove and ponds.
swamps); The largest areas of wetlands
• lacustrine (linked with lakes); Asia (32% of the global area); North
• riverine (along rivers and streams); America (27%); Latin America and
• palustrine (meaning “marshy”- the Caribbean (16%); Europe (13%);
marshes, swamps and bogs). Africa (10%) and Oceania (3%)
Human – made wetlands : These are wetlands built for a purpose, such as storing
water for irrigation and drinking, or for producing fish or for recreation. Reservoirs,
aquaculture ponds, salt pans, dams, barrages, and impoundments are some
examples of human-made wetlands.
Lakes : Lakes and ponds (also known as lentic systems) are a diverse set of inland
freshwater habitats that exist across the globe and provide essential resources and
habitats for both terrestrial and aquatic organisms.
River Floodplains: These are lands adjacent to river or stream which is subject to
periodic inundation by water over-topping the channel. Yamuna floodplains are the
primary source of water for Delhi.
Ox-bow Lakes: Oxbows are formed when the meander of a river is cut off due to
silt deposition, or river changing course, isolating a crescent-shaped waterbody.
The basins of Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers abound in oxbows. In Mahanadi
Delta, Ansupa is an oxbow located at delta apex.
Marshes: Dominated by herbaceous plants and are sustained by water sources
other than direct rainfall like surface runoff, groundwater or tidal flow. Kanwar
Jheel (Kabar Tal) is a marsh located in floodplains of Burhi Gandak in Bihar.
Estuaries: An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with
one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the
open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river and maritime
environments. A coastal lagoon is a bar-built estuary, formed when offshore barrier
sand islands develop above sea-level and extend in a chain, broken by one or more
inlets. Chilika is a lagoon in Odisha separated from the Bay of Bengal by a long sand
berm.
Swamps: Swamps are wetlands dominated by trees. These have poor drainage and
sufficient water supply to keep the ground waterlogged, and level of minerals to
stimulate decay of organisms and prevent accumulation of organic materials.
Mangroves are coastal swamps bordering major deltas of the country. Sunderbans,
spread across India and Bangladesh is the world’s largest single contiguous
mangrove swamp.
Significance of Wetlands
Wetlands are lifelines of the society. Wetlands have a deep connection with Indian
culture and traditions. Loktak Lake in Manipur is revered as “Ima” (Mother) by
locals, whereas Sikkim’s Khecheopalri Lake is popular as the “wish fulfilling lake”.
The north Indian festival of Chhath is one of the most unique expressions of the
association of people, culture, water and wetlands. The Dal Lake in Kashmir,
Khajjiar Lake in Himachal Pradesh, Nainital Lake in Uttarakhand and Kodaikanal in
Tamil Nadu are popular tourism destinations.
Wetlands find a mention even in Chankaya’s Arthashastra, where it is referred to as
“anupa,” or incomparable lands, and considered sacred.
Wetlands provide vital support to human well-being through their wide ranging
ecosystem services and biodiversity values. As these ecosystems degrade or are
adversely altered, the water cycle, and the interlinked carbon and nutrient cycles
are also adversely altered, leading to water, food and climate insecurity, and loss of
biodiversity.
Ecosystem Services by Wetlands
Water storage Buffer communities against floods,
Useful fibres droughts, cyclones and wave surges
Food production Pollution control
Maintain biodiversity Fishing and hunting
Habitat for many species including for Climate regulation/Stabilize local climate
migratory species such as waterbirds Carbon sequestration
Water supply Trapping of sediments
Water purification Scientific and Educational importance
Ground water recharge Medicinal and ornamental plants
Regulation of water regimes and stream Support livelihoods
flows Nutrient recycling
Flood regulation Provide recreational opportunities
Coastal protection/ Buffer shorelines Integral part of cultural identities
from erosion Enhance landscape aesthetics
spiritual and cultural inspiration tourism
Wetlands are our natural buffers against increasing risk of floods, droughts
and tropical cyclones. Wetlands can act as sponges, storing peak rainfall and
releasing water gradually during lean season. The floods in Kashmir Valley in
September, 2014 and Chennai city in December, 2015 are reminders of the
ways wetland destruction can make lives vulnerable. Evidences from Super
Cyclone Kalinga of 1999, Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Phailin of 2013
underline the role coastal wetlands as estuaries and mangroves can play in
buffering communities from impacts of these cyclones and wave surges.
Healthy, ecologically functioning wetlands are a key delivery mechanism for
several other global commitments, including those relating to biodiversity,
sustainable development, land degradation, climate change and disaster risk
reduction.
Wetlands are central to meeting many of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets.
SDG 15 specifically calls for conservation and sustainable use of “inland
freshwater ecosystems and their services” SDG 14 encourages protection
of coastal and marine areas. SDG 6 focuses on water and sanitation with
a target relating to trends in water-related ecosystems.

The “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” are part of the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011-2020, from the Convention on Biological Diversity;
virtually all are relevant to wetlands.

Success of Ramsar Convention is closely related to success of various

international agreements and initiatives like - The UN Convention to
Combat Desertification, The Paris Agreement, The Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction, Biodiversity-related multilateral agreements.
Threats to Wetlands: The primary direct drivers of degradation
The MEA 2005, found that inland and loss of wetlands are identified as
and coastal wetland ecosystems infrastructure development, land
were being lost at a rate faster conversion, water use, eutrophication and
than that of any other ecosystem, pollution, overharvesting, unsustainable
and the trend towards loss of tourism, sand mining, siltation,
wetlands resources has not been overexploitation of wetland resources,
reversed since. climate change and invasive alien species.

The primary indirect drivers of this

degradation and loss are identified as
population growth and change in
economic activity.
Ramsar Convention The Convention is the first Multilateral
The Convention is the only Environmental Agreement (MEA) at the
international intergovernmental global level, adopted in 1971.
legal treaty primarily focused on The Ramsar Sites network constitutes the
wetlands. It provides for the largest network of officially recognized
framework for the conservation internationally important areas in the
and wise use of wetlands. world.
Officially called as the Convention Almost 90% of UN member states, from
on Wetlands of International all the world’s geographic regions, have
Importance especially as acceded to become “Contracting Parties”.
Waterfowl Habitat. Any member of UN or of one of the
Adopted in 1971 , w.e.f – 1975; Specialized Agencies or of IAEA or Party
Parties: 172; to the Statute of ICJ may become a Party
Ramsar Sites: 2,434 to this Convention”
Three pillars of the Convention: Contracting Parties are now required to
i) the wise use of all wetlands maintain the ecological character of all
through national plans, policies wetlands, not just those designated as
and legislation, management Ramsar Sites, as was previously the
actions and public education; case
ii) the designation and sustainable
management of suitable The Convention further requires
wetlands for inclusion on the list Contracting Parties to report if the
of Wetlands of International ecological character of a Ramsar Site
Importance; and “has changed, is changing or is likely to
iii) international cooperation on change as the result of technological
transboundary wetlands and developments, pollution or other
shared species. human interference”.
COP - Every three years RAMSAR STRATEGIC PLAN 2016-24
COP12 - 2015 - Punta del Este • Strategic Goal 1: Addressing the
COP13 – 2018 - Dubai Drivers of Wetland Loss And
COP 14 – 2021 - Held in Geneva and Degradation
Wuhan in 2022 (Wuhan Declaration on • Strategic Goal 2: Effectively
Wetlands) Conserving and Managing the
The Convention’s Secretariat Ramsar Site Network
In Gland, Switzerland; • Strategic Goal 3: Wisely Using All
It is administratively supported by
Wetlands
IUCN
• Operational Goal 4: Enhancing
World Wetlands Day – February 2
Implementation
2024: Wetlands and human wellbeing
2023: Wetland restoration
2022: Wetlands Action for People &
Nature
The Montreux Record Wet Index
It is a register such Ramsar sites where changes in Since 2014, the
ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are Ramsar Convention
likely to occur as a result of technological developments, has commissioned
pollution or other human interference. the UN
Created in 1990 and highlights those sites in need of Environment World
priority conservation attention. Its purpose is to support Conservation
Contracting Parties in resolving threats facing Ramsar Monitoring Centre
Sites by guiding implementation of Ramsar Advisory to develop a
Missions (RAMs) and resource allocation under financial Wetland Extent
mechanisms. A RAM is a technical assistance Trends (WET) Index,
mechanism. based on a sample
of wetlands.
Wetlands (Conservation and purposes; for irrigation purposes;
Management) Rules, 2017 d) Wetlands falling within areas covered
Notified by MoEnvt under EPA 1986: All under the Indian Forest Act, 1927; Forest
wetlands, irrespective of their location, (Conservation) Act, 1980; State Forest
size, ownership, biodiversity, or Acts and amendments thereof; under the
ecosystem services values, can be Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and
notified under the Wetlands Rules, amendments thereof; under the Coastal
except: Regulation Zone Notification, 2011 and
a) River channels; b) Paddy fields; amendments thereof (Wetlands
designated as Ramsar Sites may be
c) Human-made waterbodies specifically
notified under the Rules even when
constructed for drinking water purposes;
partly or wholly overlapping with areas
for aquaculture purposes; for salt
covered under above laws)
production purposes; for recreation
A wetland use is not ‘wise-use’ if: vi. Degradation of water quality
a. The intervention leads to adverse vii. Reduction in diversity of native
changes in ecosystem components and species
processes, such as: viii. Introduction or emergence of
i. Reduction in water flowing into the invasive species
wetlands ix. Decline in wetlands resources, such
ii. Reduction in the area under as fish, aquatic plants, and water
inundation, or changes in inundation
regime b. The intervention enhances some
iii. Reduction and alteration of natural ecosystem services (such as food
shoreline production values) while diminishing
iv. Fragmentation of wetlands into other ecosystem services (such as the
small patches of water ability of wetlands to moderate
v. Reduction in water holding capacity wetlands regime.
State Wetlands Authority National Wetlands Committee
The Central Govt constituted the Constituted by Central Govt
State Wetlands Authority in each Headed by Secretary, MoEnvt
State. The authority is headed by The committee to recommend and
Minister In-charge of the advise the Central Govt on appropriate
Department of Environment/Forests policies and action programmes for
of the State Government or Minister conservation and wise use of wetlands;
In-charge of the Department designation of wetlands of international
handling wetlands. importance under Ramsar Convention;
The authority to function as nodal recommend trans-boundary wetlands
authority for all wetland specific for notification; review progress of
authorities within the State or integrated management of Ramsar sites
Union Territory Administration and transboundary wetlands.
 National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
(NPCA)
The Wetlands Division of MoEFCC is currently implementing a centrally
sponsored scheme NPCA for conservation and management of wetlands
in the country on cost sharing basis between Central Government and
respective State/UT Governments.
The scheme aims at holistic conservation and restoration of wetlands for
achieving the desired water quality enhancement, besides improvement
in biodiversity and ecosystems. It aims to promote mainstreaming of
wetlands in developmental programming with States by supporting
formulation and implementation of integrated management plans,
capacity development and research.
 NPCA Activities
Interception Lake beautification
Diversion and treatment of Survey & demarcation
wastewater Bio-fencing
Shoreline protection Fisheries development
Lake front development Weed control
In-situ cleaning i.e. de-silting & Biodiversity conservation
de-weeding education and awareness creation
Storm water management and community participation.
Bioremediation
Catchment area treatment
 NPCA
Environment Ministry estd. the National Wetlands Conservation
Programme (NWCP) in 1986 to provide the overarching policy framework
and financial assistance to the State Govts. for implementation of site
management plans.
In 2001, the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) was introduced to
address pollution issues in urban and semi-urban environments through
interception, diversion and treatment of pollution load entering lakes.
In February 2013, considering the need for a common approach, the two
schemes merged into a unified scheme called 'National Plan for
Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems' (NPCA) to enable the application of
uniform policy and guidelines and promote an integrated and multi-
disciplinary approach with a common regulatory framework.
 NWCP
NWCP was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)with the objective of
Conservation and wise use of wetlands in the country so as to prevent their further
degradation.
NWCP focused on - Providing policy guidelines for conservation and management
of wetlands in the country; Undertaking intensive conservation measures in
priority wetlands; Monitoring implementation of the programme; and for
preparing an inventory of Indian wetlands.
Financial assistance under NWCP was for two components i.e. Management Action
Plan (MAP) and Research Projects.
Conservation and management of wetlands was primarily vested with the
State/Union Territories.
Under NWCP 115 wetlands in 24 States and 2 Union Territories were identified for
conservation and management.
NPCA Activities
 MISC.
With 75 Ramsar sites India has the largest network in South Asia.
Amrit Dharohar scheme announced in Budget 2023-24 to encourage optimal use of
wetlands and enhance biodiversity. This scheme will be implemented over the next
three years to encourage optimal use of wetlands, and enhance biodiversity, carbon
stock, eco-tourism opportunities and income generation for local communities.
On World Wetland Day 2021, MoEFCC announced the establishment of a Centre for
Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM), as a part of the National Centre
for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, an institution under the
Ministry of Environement.
In 2020, MoEFCC took up “wetlands rejuvenation” as a transformative idea. The
programme is structured around a four-pronged approach: developing baseline
information, rapid assessment of wetlands’ condition using a set of parameters in the
form of wetland health cards, enabling stakeholder platforms in the form of wetland
Mitra (friend) and management planning. The programme has since been upscaled to
cover over 500 wetlands.
 The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)
It is a government-led initiative aimed at increasing the mangrove cover along the
coastline and on saltpan lands. The scheme is primarily focused on the Sundarbans
delta, Hoogly Estuary in West Bengal and other bay parts of country, but also includes
other wetlands in the country.
The objective of the scheme is to conserve and restore the mangrove ecosystem.
Under the scheme, the government is providing financial assistance to local
communities to undertake mangrove plantation activities. The scheme also involves
awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of mangroves and
their role in protecting the environment. The plantation activities are carried out in a
participatory manner, involving local communities and NGOs, to ensure sustainability
and community ownership of the initiative. Overall, the MISHTI scheme is a significant
step towards promoting sustainable development and protecting the vulnerable
coastal areas of India.
80% of the project cost is borne by the Government of India, while the remaining 20%
is contributed by the respective State Governments.
 Mangrove Breakthrough
• Launched at COP27 by the Global • The Mangrove Breakthrough aims to
Mangrove Alliance (GMA) in collaboration secure the future of 15 million hectares
with the UN Climate Change High-level of mangroves globally by 2030 through
Champions. collective action on:
• The Mangrove Breakthrough is a science- • Halting mangrove losses
based, measurable, and achievable goal for • Restoring half of recent mangrove losses
non-state actors and governments to
collectively restore and protect mangroves • Doubling the protection of mangroves
at the scale needed to secure the future of globally and Ensuring sustainable long-
these vital coastal forests. term finance for all existing mangroves by
achieving an investment of 4 billion USD
• This will be achieved by catalyzing financial by 2030 to conserve and revitalize these
flows to broadly activate proven solutions coastal ecosystems.
and mobilize action on the ground as part
of the Sharm El Sheikh Adaptation
Agenda—a key roadmap to deliver on the
Race to Resilience.
 Mangroves for the Future (MFF)
• MFF is a unique partner-led initiative to • MFF builds on a history of coastal
promote investment in coastal management interventions before
ecosystem conservation for sustainable and after the 2004 Indian Ocean
development. tsunami. It initially focused on the
countries that were worst affected by
• It is co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP. the tsunami -- India, Indonesia,
• MFF provides a platform for Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and
Thailand. More recently it has
collaboration among the many different expanded to include Bangladesh,
agencies, sectors and countries which Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan and
are addressing challenges to coastal Viet Nam.
ecosystem and livelihood issues. • Mangroves are the flagship of the
• The goal is to promote an integrated initiative, but MFF is inclusive of all
ocean-wide approach to coastal types of coastal ecosystem, such as
management and to building the coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, sandy
resilience of ecosystem-dependent beaches, seagrasses and wetlands.
coastal communities.
 International Organization Partners of the Convention
The Convention works very closely The IOPs
with six global non-governmental • expert technical advice,
organizations (NGOs) called IOPs • field level implementation
• Birdlife International assistance, and
• IUCN • financial support
• Wetlands International • support the use of the
• WWF Convention guidelines in their
• The International Water own work
Management Institute (IWMI) • IOPs also participate regularly as
• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust observers meetings/COPs
(WWT)
BirdLife International Wetlands International
Estd. – 1922 Estd. – 1937
HQ. - Cambridge, UK HQ. - Ede, the Netherlands.
A global partnership of NGOs A global not-for-profit organisation
It has identified 13,000 IBBAs dedicated to the conservation and
(Important Bird and Biodiversity restoration of wetlands.
Areas) A science-based partner working
It is an official scientific source of with civil society, government and
information on birds for the IUCN the private sector to enable
Red List. wetland conservation and
It publishes a quarterly - “BirdLife: restoration.
The Magazine”
 IWMI
• A global not-for-profit water CGIAR - Earlier name “Consultative
management research Group for International Agricultural
organisation under the CGIAR. Research
• HQ – Colombo Est 1971 HQ – Montpellier, France
• Estd - 1985 CGIAR is a global research
• The Institute initially estd as partnership for a food secure
International Irrigation future dedicated to reducing
Management Institute (IIMI) in poverty, enhancing food and
1985 by the Ford Foundation nutrition security, and improving
and the Govt of Sri Lanka, natural resources.
supported by CGIAR and World
Bank.
• Estd. in 1961
• One of the world's largest conservation organizations
• working in more than 100 countries
• supporting around 3,000 conservation and environmental
projects
• WWF funding from individuals, Govts, Corporations, others
• Publishes The Living Planet Report biennially since 1998
• LPR is based on Living Planet Index and ecological footprint.
• WWF campaigns
-Earth Hour -Debt-for-nature swap
• Current work is organized around these six areas: food,
climate, freshwater, wildlife, forests, and oceans.
 CMS – Bonn Convention
• Convention on the Conservation of • Migratory species threatened with
Migratory Species of Wild Animals extinction are listed on Appendix I of
• an environmental treaty of the UN the Convention.
• CMS provides a global platform for the • Migratory species that need or would
conservation and sustainable use of significantly benefit from international
migratory animals and their habitats. co-operation are listed in Appendix II
of the Convention.
• lays the legal foundation for
internationally coordinated
conservation measures throughout a
migratory range.
• Only global convention specializing in
the conservation of migratory species,
their habitats and migration routes
 CMS – Bonn Convention
• Adopted 1979. W.e.f. 1983 • The Secretariat - Bonn; CMS was the
• The Conference of the Parties (COP) is first UN organization to have its
the decision-making body of the headquarters in the city whose name
Convention. It meets at three-yearly the Convention bears.
intervals. It sets the budget and • The Secretariat is provided by the
priorities of the following three years UNEP
(the triennium). • It has an out-posted office in Abu
• Its Standing Committee (StC) gives Dhabi, UAE.
policy and administrative guidance • As of 1 March 2022 - 133 Parties.
between meetings.
• Several countries although not Party
• The Scientific Council (ScC) meets to the Convention are Party to one or
between COP sessions to offer more of the Agreements and/or have
scientific advice and identify research signed one or more of the MOUs. (Eg.,
and conservation priorities. Russia, China, USA)
 CMS
India – CMS
India, the first Asian to ratify
India has signed four Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with CMS - On
the conservation and management of
• Siberian Cranes (1998)
CMS COP14) - Samarkand, Uzbekistan,
• Marine Turtles (2007)
from 12 to 17 February 2024.
• Dugongs (2008)
• Raptors (2016)
 The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
• GIB is a critically endangered species • The largest population of 128 in Thar
• Global population of around 150 landscape of Rajasthan, other areas
Gujarat (Lala-Naliya Sanctuary and its
• India/Pak neighbourhood in Kachchh),
• CITES – Appendix I Maharashtra (GIB Sanctuary in
• WPA – Schedule I Solapur) etc..
• IUCN – CR • Rajasthan became the first state in the
country to launch a campaign to save
• Bustards (family Otididae) are the Great Indian Bustard,
obligate grassland birds
 CITES
• CITES is an international • Convention agreed on 3 March 1973
intergovernmental agreement aiming • W.e.f. - 1 July 1975
to ensure that international trade in
specimens of wild animals and plants • Although CITES is legally binding on
does not threaten their survival. the Parties , it does not take the place
of national laws.
• CITES was drafted as a result of a
resolution adopted in 1963 at a • It provides a framework, which parties
meeting of members of IUCN (The have to adopt to their own domestic
World Conservation Union). legislation to ensure that CITES is
implemented at the national level.
• Over 38,700 species – including
roughly 5,950 species of animals and
32,800 species of plants – are
protected by CITES against over-
exploitation through international
trade. They are listed in the three
CITES Appendices.
 CITES Appendices
• Appendix I includes all species • Appendix III includes all species
threatened with extinction which are which any Party identifies as being
or may be affected by trade. Trade in subject to regulation within its
specimens of these species must be jurisdiction for the purpose of
subject to particularly strict regulation preventing or restricting exploitation,
in order not to endanger further their and as needing the cooperation of
survival and must only be authorized other Parties in the control of trade.
in exceptional circumstances. • The Parties may not allow trade in
• Appendix II includes all species which specimens of species included in
although not necessarily now Appendices I, II and III except in
threatened with extinction may accordance with the provisions of the
become so unless trade in specimens Convention.
of these species is subject to strict
regulation in order to avoid utilization
incompatible with their survival
 WCCB
• Operation “SOFT GOLD” - Tibetan • Operation "THUNDERBIRD“ - mainly
antelope (Shahtoosh) species on illegal trade in species such as
Tigers and other Asian big cats, Bears,
• Operation LESKNOW II - Towards the Pangolins, Reptiles, Red Sanders, Sea-
illegal wildlife trade in lesser known cucumber and sea horses, Interpol
species such as Deer, Wild Boar, Jackal, coordinated
Mongoose, Monitor Lizard, Sea • Operation "SAVE KURMA" - turtles
cucumber and Pangolin etc. and tortoises
• Operation “THUNDERSTORM” • Efforts of the WCCB during Operation
(INTERPOL coordinated, multi-species Save Kurma” were recognized by
wildlife operation) CITES Secretariat by awarding a
Secretary-General’s Certificate of
• Operation “BIRBIL”- all Birds and cat Commendation during the 69th
species meeting of the Standing Committee
• Operation "WILDNET" - To encounter of CITES at Geneva Switzerland on 30-
the menace of the illegal trade through 11-2017.
e-commerce platform
South Asia Wildlife Enforcement TRAFFIC
Network (SAWEN) • The Wildlife Trade Monitoring
• SAARC Countries Network
• launched - 2011 in Paro, Bhutan • INGO
• It promotes regional cooperation to • founded in 1976 as a strategic alliance
combat wildlife crime in South Asia. of the World Wide Fund for Nature
• It focuses on policy harmonization; (WWF) and the International Union for
institutional capacity strengthening the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
through knowledge and intelligence • HQ. - Cambridge, United Kingdom
sharing; and collaboration with regional
and international partners to enhance
wildlife law enforcement in the
member countries.
• The Secretariat is based in Kathmandu,
Nepal.
The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime
• Estd. - Nov. 2010 in St. Petersburg Imp. Operations
• It is the joint effort of five inter- • Operation Thunderball (2019)
governmental organizations working Operation Thunderstorm (2018)
to bring coordinated support to the Operation Thunderbird (2017)
national wildlife law enforcement Operation PAWS - Protection of Asian
agencies and to the sub-regional and Wildlife Species (2014)
regional networks that, on a daily Operation Cobra II (2014)
basis, act in defense of natural Operation Cobra (201
resources. • Thunder 2021, the month-long
• The partners are CITES Secretariat, operation involved customs, police,
INTERPOL, The United Nations Office financial intelligence units and wildlife
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the and forestry enforcement agencies in
World Bank and the World Customs 118 countries: the largest number of
Organization (WCO). participating countries since the annual
operation started in 2017.
 The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
• An intergovernmental treaty • The Commission on Phytosanitary
• Parties - 183 countries Measures (CPM) was established in
2005. The CPM is the IPPC main
• Secretariat – Rome (FAO HQ) governing body, holding its sessions
• Aim - to protect the world's plant annually.
resources from the spread and
introduction of pests, and promoting
safe trade.
• The Convention introduced
International Standards for
Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) as its
main tool to achieve its goals, making
it the sole global standard setting
organization for plant health.
 ITPGRFA
• The International Treaty on Plant • The treaty establishes a global system to
Genetic Resources for Food and provide farmers, plant breeders and
Agriculture is also known as scientists with access to plant genetic
International Seed Treaty or Plant materials; ensuring that recipients share
Treaty benefits they derive from the use of these
genetic materials with the countries
• Adopted 2001, wef - 2004 where they have been originated.
• Secretariat – Rome (FAO HQ) • The Ninth Session of the Governing Body
• Aim - the conservation and (GB9) of the International Treaty on Plant
sustainable use of all plant genetic Genetic Resources for Food and
resources for food and agriculture and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) concluded in New
Delhi in September 2022.
the fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising out of their use, in • The Benefit-Sharing Fund (BSF) - for
harmony with the Convention on support of capacity building, Conservation
Biological Diversity, for sustainable and sustainable use projects among the
Contracting Parties of the Treaty.
agriculture and food security.
 International Whaling Convention
• International Convention for the • The IWC produces the State of the
Regulation of Whaling was signed in Cetacean Environment Report
Washington DC on 2nd Dec. 1946, wef (SOCER) every year.
- 1948
• The convention established
International Whaling Commission
(IWC)
• The IWC is the global body charged
with the conservation of whales and
the management of whaling.
• IWC Secretariat - Cambridge, UK.
• In addition to regulation of whaling,
today's IWC works to address a wide
range of conservation issues.
 International Whaling Convention
• Whales, dolphins and porpoises are a group of Blue Whale: Endangered
marine mammals collectively known as Antactic Blue Whale: Critically
cetaceans. Endangered
Threats to cetaceans:
• Cetaceans
Whaling
• toothed species (known as Odontoceti) -
killer whales, dolphins, porpoises and the Entanglement
sperm whale Marine debris
• baleen species (known as Mysticeti) ship strikes
Eg, Blue Whale – baleen whales have no teeth, chemical pollution
they are filter-feeder (Baleen is a filter-feeding Disease
system inside the mouths of baleen whales) noise impacts
Blue whale - the largest known animal to have oil spills
ever existed. Blue whales occur worldwide in Bycatch
all major oceans except the Arctic
Climate Change