2.7 Operational Framework of the Convention
The working of the Ramsar Convention is looked after jointly by the Contracting Parties, the Standing Committee, and the Convention Secretariat. The convention’s operations are carried out with the active participation of these three organs but not without technical advice from the STRP as well as the support from the International Organization Partners (IOPs). The important decisions related to operations of the Convention are taken by means of voting after thorough discussions by the representatives of the Contracting Parties on the matters under consideration. Various important decisions related to the convention including resolutions and recommendations are taken during the meeting of the conference of parties which have been categorized into two groups, ordinary and extraordinary meetings. An ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP) is organized every three years whereas the necessity for an extraordinary meeting of the Conference of Parties may arise if an amendment to the convention is to be discussed. Table 2.2 enlists the various ordinary and extraordinary meetings of COP held till the year 2018 (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
2.7.1 Convention Membership
As per Article 9.2 of the Convention, “Any member of the United Nations or of one of the Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency or Party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice may become a Party to Ramsar Convention.” The convention is open for membership to any such nonmember nation or agency which satisfies the eligibility criteria laid under Article 9.2 (Matthews 1993; Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2011, 2016).
As per the guidelines, the instrument of ratification/accession has to be submitted to the depository of the convention rather than to any of the organs of the convention directly. Depository receives, reviews, and accepts the instrument of ratification/accession and does not have any other role in administration or implementation. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) serves as the Depository of the Ramsar Convention 2018 (Matthews 1993).
In order to join the Ramsar Convention, the concerned nation requires agreeing to and, subsequently, working toward the fulfillment of three requirements mentioned below:
1 Submit a model instrument of ratification/accession, duly signed by the Head of State or Government or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and forwarded through proper diplomatic channels to the depository of the convention. The depository formally notifies Ramsar Secretariat and COP about it.
2 Identify and designate at least one of its wetlands to be included in the list of “wetlands of international importance.” Afterward, the party needs to designate suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in the list.
3 Must agree to contribute its share of (a percentage based on UN’s scale of assessments) to the triennial budget of the convention approved by the conference of parties during their ordinary meetings.
India joined the convention in the year 1981 and as per the mandate, India designated two of its wetlands, Chilka Lake (in Orissa) and Keoladeo Ghana NP (in Rajasthan) as Ramsar sites. Later, India expanded its network of Ramsar sites which currently has 42 wetlands with a cumulative area of 10 814 km2 (Ramsar Sites Information Service 2020). The Ramsar sites designated by India have been provided in Table 2.3 and graphically shown in Figure 2.2.
Table 2.3 List of Ramsar sites of India (as mentioned in the numerical order in Figure 2.2).
| S. No. | Name | State/UT | Area (km2) | Date of designation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wular Lake | Jammu and Kashmir | 189 | 23.03.1990 |
| 2. | Hokera Wetland | Jammu and Kashmir | 13.75 | 08.11.2005 |
| 3. | Surinsar‐Mansar Lakes | Jammu and Kashmir | 3.5 | 08.11.2005 |
| 4. | Tsomoriri Lake | Ladakh | 120 | 19.08.2002 |
| 5. | Tso Kar | Ladakh | 95.77 | 17.11.2020 |
| 6. | Chandertal Wetland | Himachal Pradesh | 0.49 | 08.11.2005 |
| 7. | Keshopur‐Miani Community Reserve | Punjab | 3.4 | 26.09.2019 |
| 8. | Pong Dam Lake | Himachal Pradesh | 156.62 | 19.08.2002 |
| 9. | Beas Conservation Reserve | Punjab | 64.2 | 26.09.2019 |