India’s Resolution on Wise Use of Wetlands Adopted at Ramsar COP15 | Explained

At the 15th Ramsar COP in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 172 countries unanimously adopted India’s resolution on ‘Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for Wetlands’, aligning with Mission LiFE and global goals. The conference also delivered the Victoria Falls Declaration, wetland restoration pledges, regional initiatives, and financial commitments to protect over 2,500 Ramsar sites worldwide.

The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands concluded on 31st July 2025 at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

A landmark moment came when India’s resolution titled “Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands” was adopted with the support of 172 Contracting Parties, Six International Organisation Partners, and observers. This adoption reflects India’s growing leadership in linking environmental conservation with sustainable lifestyles, aligned with its global initiative Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

India’s Resolution: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for Wetlands

Key Highlights

• Theme: Endorses the role of individual and societal choices in wetland conservation.

• Adoption: Supported unanimously by all 172 Ramsar member countries on 30th July 2025.

• Alignment:

  • Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) – A global movement launched by India at UNFCCC COP26 (Glasgow, 2021) to encourage eco-friendly, pro-planet lifestyles.

  • Resolution XIV.8 (New CEPA Approach) – 10-year framework on Communication, Education, Participation, and Awareness (CEPA) and sustainable production/consumption.

  • Resolution 6/8 of UNEA (2024) – On promoting sustainable lifestyles globally.

What are Sustainable Lifestyles?

Defined as “Ways of living, social behaviors and choices” that:

1. Minimise environmental degradation – conserve resources and reduce waste.

2. Support equitable socio-economic development – ensuring benefits across all social strata and generations.

3. Improve quality of life – by enabling health, security, access to resources, and strong social bonds.

India’s Approach to Wise Use of Wetlands

• Wise Use Principle (Ramsar Convention): Defined as “maintaining the ecological character of wetlands using ecosystem-based approaches within sustainable development.”

• National Measures:

  • National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA).

  • Integrated Management Plans (IMPs) for sustainable use.

  • Wetland Wise Use – An Implementation Framework (2024).

  • Mission Sahbhagita and Save Wetlands Campaign – Over 2 million citizens as volunteers, mapping 1,70,000 wetlands and demarcating boundaries of 1,20,000 wetlands in 3 years.

Broader Outcomes of Ramsar COP15

1. Adoption of the Victoria Falls Declaration

• Acknowledges the ecological, social, and economic roles of wetlands.

• Highlights wetlands’ contribution to biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Calls for political commitment, resource mobilisation, and investment in wetland management.

2. New Resolutions on Restoration & Governance

• Wetland Restoration: Countries committed to restoring degraded freshwater ecosystems and improving national legislation.

• Equitable Governance & OECMs: Adopted a resolution on rights-based wetland conservation, including OECMs (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures).

• Urban Wetlands: Recognition of their role in sustainability and resilience.

• Traditional Knowledge & Youth Engagement: Inclusion of diverse knowledge systems and intergenerational participation.

3. Regional and Global Initiatives Launched

• Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative (IBRRI) 2025–2030: For halting and reversing wetland loss across Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

• BRIDGE Programme: Grants for gender mainstreaming and women leadership in wetland conservation.

• Freshwater Challenge: Framework to enhance implementation of the Ramsar Convention.

• Global Waterbird Estimates Partnership (GWEP): Builds monitoring capacity and integrates global datasets to combat decline of waterbird populations.

4. Strategic Planning & Finance

• Adoption of the 5th Strategic Plan of the Ramsar Convention: 4 goals, 18 targets.

• Core budget increased by 4.1% to CHF 15.5 million ($19.4 million) for 2025–2027.

5. Global Participation

• Over 3,000 delegates attended COP15.

• Second Ramsar COP hosted in Africa (after COP9 in Uganda, 2005).

• COP16 will be hosted by Panama in 2028.

About the Ramsar Convention

• Adopted: 1971 in Ramsar, Iran; in force since 1975.

• Nature: Intergovernmental treaty for conservation and wise use of wetlands.

• Ramsar Sites Globally: 2,531 sites covering over 2.6 million sq. km.

• Criteria: Sites must meet at least 1 of 9 ecological/biological criteria.

• India’s Status: 91 Ramsar Sites, the highest in Asia.

The adoption of India’s resolution at Ramsar COP15 signifies global recognition of the importance of sustainable lifestyles in wetland conservation. With wetlands facing increasing threats from urbanisation, pollution, and climate change, the integration of individual behaviour, national policies, and international cooperation is vital. India’s proactive initiatives like Mission LiFE, Mission Sahbhagita, and Wetland Wise Use Framework showcase how people-centric approaches can align with global environmental governance.

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