Gujarat has highest wetland coverage in India, home to four Ramsar sites

Out of India’s total 115 national wetlands, 8 national wetlands are in Gujarat, and out of the total 85 Ramsar sites in the country, Gujarat has four.

According to an ISRO survey, there are 17,613 wetlands in Gujarat.

Gujarat has 21% of the total area of ​​all wetlands in the country, which is the highest among all the states. Gujarat’s wetlands are spread over an area of ​​3.5 million hectares, which comprises 17.8% of the geographical area of ​​Gujarat.

According to the Space Based Observation of Indian Wetlands ISRO, 2021, Gujarat has a total of 17,613 wetlands, covering a total area of ​​34,99,429 hectares.

It mainly includes inland-natural wetlands, inland-man-made wetlands, coastal man-made wetlands and coastal natural wetlands. Gujarat has a maximum area of ​​67 % of the creeks, followed by 46.8 % of the marshes, 91.6 % of the salt marshes and 75.5 % of the salt marshes.

A total of 115 wetlands of national importance have been declared in India under the NWCP program by the MoEFCC. Out of which, a total of 8 wetlands of national importance including Nal Sarovar, Thol Lake, Small Rann of Kutch, Large Rann of Kutch, Nani Kakarad, Wadhwana, Khijdia and Pariej are located in Gujarat. In addition, 19 wetlands in Gujarat are recognized as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas.

Out of the total 85 Ramsar Sites in India, four Ramsar Sites are located in Gujarat. These include Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Thol Talo Wildlife Sanctuary, Khijdia Wildlife Sanctuary and Wadhwana Wetland.

Ramsar Sites are designated wetlands of international importance recognized under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty established in 1971 to conserve and sustainably use wetlands. 

These sites are crucial for biodiversity, providing habitat for migratory birds, supporting aquatic ecosystems, and playing a vital role in water purification and flood control. Countries that are signatories to the convention commit to protecting and managing these wetlands to maintain their ecological character and benefits.

There are multiple wetland-based protected areas such as Marine National Park and Sanctuary, Khijdia Sanctuary, Nal Sarovar Sanctuary, Chhari Dhandh Conservation Reserve, Small Rann of Kutch-Ghudkhar Sanctuary, Big Rann of Kutch-Ran of Kutch Sanctuary and Porbandar Bird Sanctuary.

The GEER (Gujarat Ecological Education and Research) Foundation, based in Gandhinagar, is actively involved in scientific research, monitoring programs, and wetland exploration and documentation to assess the status of wetland ecosystems in Gujarat.