Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) is a voluntary accreditation system that allows cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts. Read here to learn more.
Indore and Udaipur have become the first Indian cities to make it to the global list of accredited wetland cities under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
In Indore, Sirpur Lake (Ramsar Site) is recognised for water bird congregation and is being developed as a bird sanctuary.
Udaipur is surrounded by five major wetlands, namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai.
Wetland City Accreditation (WCA)
- Voluntary Accreditation: Provides recognition for cities that conserve and sustainably manage their natural or human-made wetlands.
- Aim: To raise awareness about the ecological, social, and cultural importance of wetlands in urban areas.
- Adoption: Approved at COP12 of the Ramsar Convention in Uruguay (2015).
- Validity: Accreditation is valid for six years, subject to renewal based on continued compliance with six specific criteria.
The cities are selected based on various parameters like:
- Conservation and Wise Use: Demonstrating efforts to maintain or restore the ecological character of wetlands.
- Community Engagement: Involvement of local communities in wetland management and conservation.
- Awareness and Education: Initiatives to inform and educate citizens about the importance of wetlands.
- Wetland Benefits: Recognition and sustainable utilization of wetland benefits, such as flood control and biodiversity.
- Governance and Management: Strong institutional frameworks for wetland protection.
- Sustainable Urban Development: Integration of wetland conservation into urban planning and development strategies.
Six Accreditation Criteria
- Contains Ramsar sites providing ecosystem services within city jurisdiction
- Adopts measures for wetland conservation and ecosystem service protection
- Implemented wetland restoration and/or management measures
- Integrates wetland planning into urban land-use decisions
- Promotes public awareness and local participation in wetland decisions
- Establishes local committee for wetland management and Ramsae accreditation
Significance
- International Recognition: Helps cities gain positive publicity for their conservation efforts.
- Environmental Benefits: Encourages sustainable wetland management in urban areas.
- Biodiversity Protection: Helps protect critical habitats for flora and fauna.
- Improved Urban Resilience: Wetlands provide natural buffers against floods and improve water quality.
Accredited Wetland Cities
List of 31 newly accredited Wetland Cities, announced at the 64th meeting of the Standing Committee on January 24, 2025.
- Argentina: Trelew
- Belgium: Mechelen
- Botswana: Kasane-Kazungula, Shakawe
- Chile: Valdivia
- China: Chongming, Dali, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Jiujiang, Lhasa, Suzhou, Wenzhou, Yueyang
- France: Abbeville, Arles, Hampigny
- India: Indore, Udaipur
- Iran (Islamic Republic of): Babol, Bandar Kiashar, Gandoman
- Japan: Nagoya City
- Morocco: Mehdya
- Philippines: Balanga City
- Poland: Poznan
- Republic of Korea: Gimhae, Mungyeong
- Serbia: Novi Sad
- Switzerland: Geneva
- Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls
Wetland City Accreditation in India
Indore and Udaipur have become the first two Indian cities to make it to the global list of accredited wetland cities under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
- In Indore, Sirpur Lake (Ramsar Site) is recognised for water bird congregation and is being developed as a bird sanctuary.
- Udaipur is surrounded by five major wetlands, namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai.
Bhopal, another city nominated from India, did not receive accreditation due to concerns raised about potential ecological damage from a proposed road project affecting the Bhoj Wetland.
- Bhoj wetland is a Ramsar site designated in 2002 that comprises two interconnected man-made reservoirs i.e., the Upper Lake (created by Raja Bhoj in the 11th century on Kolans River) and the Lower Lake.
Ramsar convention
The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”.
The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.
Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:
- work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;
- designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;
- cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is wetland city accreditation?
Ans: The Wetland City Accreditation scheme will encourage cities near and dependent on wetlands, especially Wetlands of International Importance, to highlight and strengthen a positive relationship with these valuable ecosystems.
Q. Which city is India’s first wetland city?
Ans: Indore and Udaipur have become the first two Indian cities to earn a spot on the global list of accredited wetland cities under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Related articles:
- Ramsar sites in India
- Ramsar sites (Wetlands) in India: Memorize faster
- Wetland: What are the benefits of a wetland?
-Article by Swathi Satish
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