Wetlands are one of the most crucial sources of freshwater and one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. The Gangetic wetlands are the largest riverine wetland system in India.

Natural wetlands are in long-term decline around the world says this global report on the state of wetlands. Between 1970 and 2015, inland and marine/coastal wetlands both declined by approximately 35%, where data are available, three times the rate of forest loss.

The Central Asian Flyway (CAF), one among the nine flyways in the world, encompasses overlapping migration routes over 30 countries for different waterbirds linking their northern most breeding grounds in Russia (Siberia) to the southernmost non-breeding (wintering) grounds in West and South Asia, the Maldives and the British Indian Ocean Territ

Wetlands cover 5–10% of the earth’s terrestrial surface. They are important ecosystems that supply goods and services for human wellbeing.

The new rules, notified by the environment ministry, decentralise wetlands management by giving states powers to not only identify and notify wetlands within their jurisdictions but also keep a watch on prohibited activities.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Management of Wetlands, 25/07/2017. 115 wetlands in 24 States and two Union Territories have been identified for conservation and management under the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) of the Ministry. The State-wise list of these wetlands is given in Annexure - I.