Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, is leading the Indian delegation at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention being held at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 23rd July to 31st July 2025.
Addressing the event, Yadav highlighted India’s contribution to global wetlands conservation, informing that India has 91 Ramsar Sites (1.36 million ha), which is the largest network in Asia and third largest globally.
In his address, Yadav stated, “Over the past decade, we have expanded this network by 250 percent. For the first time, two Indian cities—Udaipur and Indore—have been accredited as Wetland Cities, showing our commitment to urban wetlands.”
Yadav highlighted the active participation of communities through ‘Mission LiFE’ and ‘Ek ped Maa ke naam’. These visionary initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he stated, supplement the efforts in protection of nature, conservation of wetlands flora and fauna, abating degradation and erosion of soil.
Aligned with this, India’s ‘Mission Sahbhagita’ and the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ have mobilised more than 2 million citizens, resulting in the establishment of over 170,000 wetlands and the boundary demarcation of nearly 100,000 wetlands across the country.
During the visit, the Minister also engaged in bilateral meetings with the heads of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). A meeting was also held with the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Zimbabwe, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, to advance cooperation on wetland restoration and knowledge exchange.
The Ramsar COP15 brings together 172 Contracting Parties, International Organisation Partners, scientific institutions, civil society, and community representatives.
