Wetland City Accreditation (WCA)
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TOI
Context: Indore and Udaipur have become the first Indian cities to achieve the prestigious Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
About Wetland Accredited Cities:
• What is Wetland City Accreditation (WCA)? Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) is a voluntary initiative under the Ramsar Convention that recognizes cities for wetland conservation efforts. Established in COP12 (2015): WCA was introduced during the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Ramsar Convention held in Uruguay in 2015. Validity and Renewal: Accreditation is valid for 6 years and can be renewed if cities continue to meet the prescribed international criteria.
• Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) is a voluntary initiative under the Ramsar Convention that recognizes cities for wetland conservation efforts.
• Established in COP12 (2015): WCA was introduced during the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Ramsar Convention held in Uruguay in 2015.
• Validity and Renewal: Accreditation is valid for 6 years and can be renewed if cities continue to meet the prescribed international criteria.
• To promote conservation and wise use of wetlands in urban and peri-urban areas. To ensure socio-economic benefits for local populations while safeguarding ecological balance. To encourage cities near Ramsar-designated wetlands to maintain positive relationships with these ecosystems.
• To promote conservation and wise use of wetlands in urban and peri-urban areas.
• To ensure socio-economic benefits for local populations while safeguarding ecological balance.
• To encourage cities near Ramsar-designated wetlands to maintain positive relationships with these ecosystems.
• Criteria for Accreditation:
Cities must satisfy six international criteria, including:
• Adopting measures for wetland conservation and wise use.
• Promoting ecosystem services provided by wetlands.
• Maintaining sustainable socio-economic practices linked to wetlands.
• Engaging local communities in conservation.
• Addressing concerns related to wetland degradation.
• Protecting both natural and human-made wetlands.
• Features:
• Provides international recognition and positive publicity for cities. Encourages wetland conservation policies in urban planning. Helps implement India’s Amrit Dharohar initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Promotes sustainable urban development while ensuring ecological preservation.
• Provides international recognition and positive publicity for cities.
• Encourages wetland conservation policies in urban planning.
• Helps implement India’s Amrit Dharohar initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• Promotes sustainable urban development while ensuring ecological preservation.
• Recent Addition from India:
• Indore, Madhya Pradesh: Recognized for Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar site developed as a bird sanctuary and water bird congregation zone. Udaipur, Rajasthan: Known for its interconnected wetlands, including Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai, which support biodiversity and eco-tourism.
• Indore, Madhya Pradesh: Recognized for Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar site developed as a bird sanctuary and water bird congregation zone.
• Recognized for Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar site developed as a bird sanctuary and water bird congregation zone.
• Udaipur, Rajasthan: Known for its interconnected wetlands, including Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai, which support biodiversity and eco-tourism.
• Known for its interconnected wetlands, including Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai, which support biodiversity and eco-tourism.
Insta links:
• Wetland-city-accreditation-WCA