Ramsar Wetland City Recognition 2025

Udaipur, popularly known as the City of Lakes, was awarded the prestigious Ramsar Wetland City accreditation in 2025. This global recognition honours cities excelling in wetland conservation, sustainable management, and community involvement. With this achievement, Udaipur joined the elite group of Ramsar Wetland Cities, showcasing its exemplary model of balancing urban growth with environmental protection.

What is Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation?

The Ramsar Wetland City accreditation is an international recognition under the Ramsar Convention wetlands programme. It identifies and honours cities that conserve their wetlands while integrating them into urban planning and sustainable development.

• Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance.

• The programme highlights the importance of wetlands in urban planning.

• Cities must meet the Ramsar Wetland City recognition criteria, including strong protection policies, wetland biodiversity conservation, and community participation.

Why Udaipur Received Ramsar Wetland City Status

Udaipur’s lakes and wetlands have been managed through long-term conservation projects, a strong community role in Ramsar Wetland City accreditation, and eco-tourism promotion.

Key Factors:

• Urban wetland management integrated with city planning.

• Community engagement through awareness campaigns.

• Biodiversity protection and promotion of sustainable livelihoods.

• Restoration of water bodies under initiatives like Mission Amrit Sarovar.

This achievement strengthens Udaipur Ramsar Wetland City's recognition as a global example of modern urban governance combined with traditional lake culture.

Significance of Wetlands

Wetlands are often called the “kidneys of the environment”.

• They act as natural filters, absorbing pollutants.

• Control floods and recharge groundwater.

• Support rich wetland biodiversity conservation.

• Hold cultural and economic importance for local communities.

The benefits of Ramsar Wetland City status extend beyond recognition—it encourages cities to make wetlands central to development and urban planning.

Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards 2025 and Wetland Recognition

The award ceremony also included the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards 2025, where 130 cities were assessed under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

• Indore topped the ranking with a 200/200 score.

• Other top performers: Jabalpur, Agra, Surat, Amravati, Dewas.

• ₹1.55 lakh crore mobilised for clean air initiatives such as EV adoption, tree plantation, and waste-to-energy projects.

This linkage of clean air and wetland conservation shows India’s holistic approach to sustainable cities and supports Ramsar Wetland City objectives.

India’s Progress in Wetland Conservation

• India now has 91 Ramsar sites, the highest in Asia and 3rd globally.

• These cover 1.36 million hectares.

• Government initiatives like Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam and Mission Amrit Sarovar focus on water body restoration and mass tree plantation.

This highlights how Ramsar Wetland City accreditation in India 2025 is part of a larger national strategy for wetland protection.

Which Cities Are Ramsar Wetland Cities?

Globally, only a select group of cities enjoys Ramsar Wetland City status. These include cities that have demonstrated consistent efforts in wetland city recognition. Udaipur is India’s latest Ramsar Wetland City, adding to the list of globally recognized urban wetlands.

Importance of SSC Exams

For SSC aspirants, this topic is highly relevant under Environment & Ecology Current Affairs. Questions may be asked on:

• Ramsar Wetland City recognition criteria

• Number of Ramsar sites in India

• Which Indian city got Ramsar Wetland City accreditation in 2025

• Significance and benefits of Ramsar Wetland City status

Possible Exam Questions

1. Which Indian city was awarded the Ramsar Wetland City accreditation in 2025?

   • Udaipur

2. How many Ramsar sites does India currently have?

   • 91 Ramsar sites

3. What is the main objective of the Ramsar Wetland City accreditation?

   • Promoting sustainable urban wetland management and conservation.

Final Thoughts

Udaipur has been awarded the prestigious Ramsar Wetland City accreditation in 2025, recognizing its outstanding efforts in wetland conservation and sustainable urban management. Known as the City of Lakes, Udaipur now joins an elite group of Ramsar Wetland Cities worldwide. Wetlands play a crucial role in controlling floods, absorbing pollutants, supporting biodiversity, and providing cultural and economic benefits to local communities.

The Ramsar Wetland City recognition requires strong protection policies, urban wetland management, and active community participation. Udaipur achieved this through long-term lake conservation, eco-tourism promotion, and public awareness initiatives. India now hosts 91 Ramsar sites, making it a leader in Asia for wetland preservation.

The city’s achievement highlights the importance of integrating wetlands into urban planning, balancing development with ecological sustainability. This recognition also emphasizes the benefits of Ramsar Wetland City status, inspiring other cities to prioritize wetland conservation.