Lok Sabha Question No. 317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Conservation and Management of Wetlands under Amrit Dharohar Programme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Shri Avimanyu Sethi, Dr. Rajesh Mishra, Shri Manoj Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 317

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## Conservation and Management of Wetlands under Amrit Dharohar Programme

## 317.     SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

DR. RAJESH MISHRA:

SHRI AVIMANYU SETHI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the objectives and scope of the Amrit Dharohar initiative for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of wetlands across the country;
- (b) the progress made in identification, notification and management of wetlands under this initiative, including coordination with State Governments and local communities; and
- (c) the  outcomes achieved  in  terms of biodiversity conservation,  livelihood support and climate resilience through wetland-focused interventions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) The  Amrit  Dharohar  Initiative  of  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change  (MoEF&CC),  Government  of  India  was  launched  in  2023  to  promote  the  unique conservation values of Ramsar  Sites.  The  key  components  are Species  and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihoods and Wetlands Carbon Assessment. The expected  outcomes  of  the initiative include the protection  and  promotion  of  unique conservation and cultural heritage values, creation of nature tourism opportunities and income generation  for  local  communities,  encouragement  of  optimal  and  wise  use  of  wetlands, maintenance of their ecological character, and safeguarding and enhancing biological diversity and carbon stock.
- (b) & (c)   The details of the progress made under the Amrit Dharohar Initiative in the country, studies  conducted under its key components and coordination with State Governments and local communities are as follows:
- (i) Species and Habitat Conservation : Studies for the inventory of flora and fauna of 75 Ramsar Sites have been conducted by the Botanical Survey of India and the Zoological Survey of India, respectively. People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) for Ramsar Sites have been developed or updated. To ensure effective monitoring of the management plans, guidelines for the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) for Indian Wetlands were published and, METT Assessments have so far been completed for 65

Ramsar Sites. Ten educational videos on wetlands were also developed for different levels  of  school  students,  in  collaboration  with  the  Central  Institute  of  Educational Technology, National Council of Educational Research and Training. An implementation framework for the wise use of wetlands was released. Video on Bird call of flagship species of Ramsar sites of India has also been released.

- (ii) Nature Tourism & Wetlands Livelihoods : MoEF&CC collaborated with the Ministry of Tourism to study the subject matter and develop curricula for training programmes on nature tourism and wetlands livelihoods. Trainings under the Alternate Livelihood Programme  and  Paryavaran  Naavik  Certification  were  conducted  for  196  local community members from five Ramsar Sites. In addition, a training module for Nature Guides was developed under the Green Skill Development Programme of MoEF&CC.
- (iii) Wetlands Carbon Assessment : A 'Standard Operating Procedure for Assessment of Carbon Stock in Wetlands' was released, and has been utilised to assess the Carbonstock of 39 Ramsar Sites across the country.   Methodology for climate co-benefit assessment  for  wetlands  has  been  developed.  Considering  the  high  carbon  storage capacity of peatlands, a Technical Report on 'Peatlands of India: An Overview and Future Roadmap' has been released.

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