Wetlands in Uttar Pradesh

Introduction

According to the National Wetland Atlas, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has more than 1.2 lakh wetlands covering about 12.4 lakh hectares. Also, Uttar Pradesh has 11 Ramsar Sites (as of 31 January 2026) spanning nearly 37,600 hectares. Wetlands cover 5.16% of the geographical area of Uttar Pradesh and are largely concentrated in the Terai belt and the Ganga floodplains. Notably, natural wetlands account for 74% of the total wetland area in Uttar Pradesh.

Ramsar sites in Uttar Pradesh

Ramsar sites in Uttar Pradesh are Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention (1971). The eleven Ramsar sites of Uttar Pradesh are compiled in the table given below.

Table: Ramsar sites in Uttar Pradesh (As of 31 January 2026)

Map: Ramsar sites in Uttar Pradesh

Benefits of Wetlands for Uttar Pradesh

Wetlands provide four major ecosystem services viz. provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural. They ensure water security, biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate resilience in Uttar Pradesh.

• Flood control: Wetlands act as natural sponges by absorbing excess rainfall. e.g. Upper Ganga River wetland.
• Water buffer: Protect settlements, agricultural fields, and infrastructure by storing and gradually releasing water.
• Groundwater recharge: Wetlands allow rainfall and runoff to percolate into alluvial aquifersin Uttar Pradesh, which is crucial for both drinking water and irrigation in the State.
• Water purification: Wetlands function as natural bio-filters that improve water quality by absorbing nutrients (e.g. phosphorus, nitrogen) from agricultural runoff in Uttar Pradesh. Also, plants found in wetlands (e.g. water hyacinth, azolla, duckweed) absorb heavy metals.
• Biodiversity conservation: Wetlands provide various organisms (e.g. fish, amphibians, insects, aquatic vegetation) with feeding, breeding, and resting habitats. They also act as key ecological nodes on the Central Asian Flyway, where migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia visit annually, e.g. Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary.
• Soil conservation: Wetlands trap sediments and reduce erosion. This is significant for Uttar Pradesh amid increasing soil degradation.
• Livelihoods: Wetlands support employment based on inland fisheries, aquaponics like singhara (water chestnut) and lotus farming, pearl farming, and eco-tourism.
• Wetland resources: Wetlands supply fish, fodder, aquatic plants, and medicinal species for local communities, supporting household needs and small rural enterprises in Uttar Pradesh.
• Education and research: Wetlands serve as natural laboratories for ecological learning/research, biodiversity monitoring, and awareness programmes in Uttar Pradesh.
• Climate and disaster resilience: Wetlands store carbon in biomass and soils and act as buffers against climate extremes. e.g. retaining water during floods and releasing it during dry periods.

Threats to wetlands in Uttar Pradesh

Wetlands in Uttar Pradesh are under increasing pressure from human activities and climate change, leading to habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, and declining ecosystem services.

• Alteration of hydrological regime: Reduced water inflows due to dams and barrages are degrading wetlands. e.g. Sarsai Nawar Jheel due to the blockade on the Upper Ganga stretch.
• Catchment degradation: Wetlands in Uttar Pradesh are shrinking due to untreated waste dumping, agricultural expansion, and rapid urbanisation.
• Invasive species: They block sunlight and reduce dissolved oxygen levels, harming aquatic organisms in the wetlands of Uttar Pradesh. e.g. Water hyacinth, Salvinia.
• Over-exploitation of wetland resources: Excess fishing using small mesh nets, overgrazing, excess water abstraction, and local resource mining alter wetland ecology.
• Agricultural runoff: Nutrient-rich runoff (fertilisers and pesticides) from the crop fields of Uttar Pradesh causes eutrophication, leading to algal blooms and fish deaths. e.g. Saman Bird Sanctuary nutrient overload.
• Unsustainable tourism: Growing tourism without ecological planning degrades habitats in wetlands. Tourism infrastructures and recreational activities often ignore ecological carrying capacity, harming wetlands.
• Climate change: Rising temperatures increase eutrophication. Irregular rainfall and extreme weather events alter hydrological cycles.

Government efforts for conserving wetlands in Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched many initiatives aligning with national wetland conservation schemes to protect its wetlands.

• “One District, One Wetland” Initiative: Announced in 2022, it aims to promote sustainable eco-tourism in the wetlands of Uttar Pradesh, protecting them from encroachment.
• UP Wetland Management & Research Centre (UPWMRC): It leads technical interventions to conserve wetlands. e.g. Converting water hyacinth into biogas at Haiderpur Wetland.
• Amrit Dharohar Scheme: Launched in 2023 by the Centre, it is implemented in Uttar Pradesh to primarily conserve Ramsar sites.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): Uttar Pradesh declares ESZs near wetlands to protect them from encroachment. e.g., Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary received ESZ status in 2025.
• Uttar Pradesh State Wetland Authority (UPSWA): Constituted in 2017 under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, it serves as the nodal agency for wetland conservation and management in Uttar Pradesh.
• State wetland atlas: In 2019, the UPSWA was tasked by the UP Government to prepare a wetland atlas for the state.
• Ramsar site designations: Uttar Pradesh achieved a major milestone by designating Patna Bird Sanctuary (Etah) as its 11th Ramsar site on January 31, 2026.
• Awareness campaigns: Uttar Pradesh Government organises state-wide programmes on World Wetlands Day (2 February) to increase awareness among people about wetlands.

Suggestions for wetland conservation in Uttar Pradesh

Conservation of wetlands contributes to SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 8 (sustainable livelihoods). Uttar Pradesh can strengthen wetland conservation measures through integrated policies, community involvement, and technology.

• Specific wetland management plans: Develop site-specific plans in order to address effectively the specific problems faced by a wetland.
• Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs): Install STPs for urban wetlands to prevent untreated waste discharge leading to eutrophication.
• Invasive species to biogas/compost conversion: Develop efficient methods to make invasive species (e.g. water hyacinth) biomass economically beneficial.
• GIS-Drone Mapping: Digitise all wetlands in the State and monitor encroachment via annual satellite surveys.
• Real-time Sensors: Install IoT water quality sensors in Ramsar sites for crucial alerts.
• AI-based management: Utilise Artificial Intelligence for early warnings and predictions for planning wetland conservation.
• Educate farmers: to prevent excess use of agrochemicals and unsustainable fishing, and create buffer zones around wetlands to protect them.
• Promote sustainable tourism: to prevent wetlands from harmful anthropogenic presence.
• Participation of local communities: for the effective implementation of rules and regulations to conserve wetlands.
• Implementation of Wetland Rules 2017: Form Wetland Authorities for all 11 Ramsar sites with powers for boundary demarcation and encroachment removal.

Wetlands are nature-based solutions that support water security, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. Strengthening their protection through scientific management, community participation, and effective governance is essential for ensuring sustainable development and long-term ecological security in Uttar Pradesh.

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