**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 317, scheduled for 02.02.2026, regarding the Conservation and Management of Wetlands under the Amrit Dharohar Programme. The response outlines the objectives, scope, and progress of the Amrit Dharohar Initiative, launched in 2023 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of wetlands across India. It also details achievements in biodiversity conservation, livelihood support, and climate resilience through wetland-focused interventions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amrit Dharohar Initiative:**
* Launched in 2023 by MoEF&CC to promote the conservation values of Ramsar Sites.
* Key components: Species and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihoods, and Wetlands Carbon Assessment.
* Expected Outcomes: Protection of conservation and cultural heritage values, creation of nature tourism opportunities, income generation for local communities, wise use of wetlands, maintenance of ecological character, and safeguarding biodiversity and carbon stock.
* **Progress Under the Initiative:**
* **Species and Habitat Conservation:**
* Flora and fauna inventory studies conducted for 75 Ramsar Sites.
* People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) for Ramsar Sites have been developed or updated.
* Guidelines for Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) for Indian Wetlands were published.
* METT Assessments completed for 65 Ramsar Sites.
* Ten educational videos on wetlands developed for school students.
* Implementation framework for the wise use of wetlands released.
* Video on Bird call of flagship species of Ramsar sites of India has been released.
* **Nature Tourism & Wetlands Livelihoods:**
* MoEF&CC collaborated with the Ministry of Tourism to develop training curricula on nature tourism and wetlands livelihoods.
* Trainings conducted for 196 local community members from five Ramsar Sites.
* Training module for Nature Guides developed under the Green Skill Development Programme.
* **Wetlands Carbon Assessment:**
* "Standard Operating Procedure for Assessment of Carbon Stock in Wetlands" released and utilized to assess the carbon-stock of 39 Ramsar Sites.
* Methodology for climate co-benefit assessment for wetlands has been developed.
* Technical Report on “Peatlands of India: An Overview and Future Roadmap" released.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for implementing and overseeing the Amrit Dharohar Initiative.
* Needs to coordinate with other ministries, state governments, and local communities.
* Required to monitor and evaluate the progress of the initiative.
* **Action Required**
* Continue to execute the Amrit Dharohar Initiative.
* Develop and refine strategies for achieving the initiative's objectives.
* Ensure effective coordination among stakeholders.
**State Governments**
* **Impact**
* Involved in the identification, notification, and management of wetlands.
* Need to coordinate with MoEF&CC and local communities.
* Responsible for implementing wetland-focused interventions at the state level.
* **Action Required**
* Collaborate with MoEF&CC on wetland management.
* Develop and implement state-level action plans for wetland conservation.
* Engage with local communities in wetland management efforts.
**Local Communities**
* **Impact**
* Potentially benefit from nature tourism opportunities and income generation.
* May be involved in wetland management and conservation efforts.
* May require training and capacity building.
* **Action Required**
* Participate in training programs on nature tourism and wetlands livelihoods.
* Engage in wetland management and conservation activities.
* Adopt sustainable practices for wetland use.
**Botanical Survey of India and the Zoological Survey of India**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for conducting flora and fauna inventory studies of Ramsar Sites.
* **Action Required**
* Continue to conduct flora and fauna inventory studies of Ramsar Sites.
Key Entities Referenced
Amrit Dharohar Initiative: A program launched in 2023 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to promote the unique conservation values of Ramsar Sites.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC): The Indian government ministry responsible for planning, promoting, and coordinating environmental and forestry programs.
Ramsar Sites: Wetland sites designated of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
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 65Ramsar 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 Carbon-
stock 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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