India enhances wetland conservation with 89 Ramsar Sites

India is celebrating its status as home to the largest network of Ramsar Sites in Asia, with the total now reaching 89, significantly boosted by recent government conservation initiatives. On World Wetlands Day, the importance of wetlands in sustaining biodiversity and combating climate change is highlighted, with India's Prime Minister Modi emphasizing a balance between ecological preservation and urban development. Concurrently, the Space Application Center has released the 2024 Atlas, a detailed geo-spatial database of Indian wetlands, enhancing previous assessments by utilizing high-resolution satellite imagery to map wetlands as small as 0.1 hectares. This progress reflects a broader commitment to environmental conservation under Modi's leadership, which has seen 63 Ramsar Sites added since 2014. In the UK, a £1.7 million initiative called “Downs to the Sea” aims to restore ponds and create biodiversity hotspots in the South Downs National Park, addressing the significant loss of freshwater habitats. These global efforts underscore the critical role of wetland conservation in addressing ecological challenges.