Consider the following statements:
- Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
Correct Answer: Option C
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Ramsar Convention does not mandate the protection and conservation of all wetlands within a contracting party's territory.
Instead, contracting parties commit to:
- Designating at least one Ramsar site (Wetland of International Importance).
- Promoting the wise use of all wetlands.
- Integrating wetland conservation into national land-use planning.
Statement 2 is incorrect. While India is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 do not fully align with the Ramsar Convention's broader definition of wetlands. For instance, the rules exclude river channels, paddy fields, and coastal wetlands from their scope, even though the Ramsar Convention includes irrigated agricultural lands and canals under wetlands.
Statement 3 is correct. According to the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, a "wetland" includes the area of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, including lakes, reservoirs, tanks, backwaters, lagoons, creeks, estuaries, and man-made wetlands, as well as the drainage area or catchment region of the wetlands as determined by the authority.
Hence, only statement 3 is correct.
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