Siliserh Lake and Kopra Jalashay Designated as New Ramsar Sites

Two New Ramsar Sites, But Is a Designation Enough?

On December 16, 2025, Siliserh Lake in Rajasthan and Kopra Jalashay in Chhattisgarh were designated as India’s 95th and 96th Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention. These additions mark yet another milestone in India’s ambitious expansion of its Ramsar portfolio, up from a mere 26 sites in 2014. This appears impressive—almost a fourfold increase in just over a decade. However, the real question is whether the designation has translated into tangible ecological and administrative safeguards, especially in states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where wetland management has historically been riddled with challenges.

Beneath the Ramsar Designation: Institutional Responsibilities

Ramsar sites, as wetlands of international importance, are governed under the Ramsar Convention of 1971, to which India has been a signatory since 1982. The convention mandates member countries to maintain the ecological character of designated wetlands and ensure their wise use. However, in India's governance structure, wetland management responsibilities are fragmented across multiple entities. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) leads nationally, but implementation often falls on state biodiversity boards, local municipal corporations, and irrigation departments.

Siliserh Lake, for example, is not managed solely as an ecological asset. Built in 1845 to supply drinking water to Alwar, it is also a tourism hotspot. The Sariska Tiger Reserve, located nearby, places additional conservation pressures on the system. Similarly, the Kopra Jalashay, Chhattisgarh’s first-ever Ramsar site, exists in the critical upper catchment of the Mahanadi River Basin, central to irrigation and drinking water for the region. Here, competing water demands could compromise conservation objectives unless management is coordinated rigorously at both state and centre levels.

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 were framed to address such lacunae, requiring state wetland authorities to prepare comprehensive management plans. Yet, funding constraints and bureaucratic inertia remain universal hurdles. The glaring reality is that wetland governance in India still relies disproportionately on state-level political will and localized capacities, which vary widely.

A Success on Paper? Designation vs Conservation

The Ramsar designation comes with high expectations, but does it guarantee actual ecological restoration or protection? The grim answer may lie in the state of existing Ramsar sites. The Keoladeo National Park, another Ramsar site in Rajasthan, has struggled with siltation, declining water inflows, and invasive species despite its long-standing recognition. Similarly, Loktak Lake in Manipur, designated in 1990, faces degradation due to unchecked human encroachments and hydropower projects.

Both Siliserh and Kopra mirrors these challenges. Siliserh is heavily dependent on rainwater and faces frequent drought-like conditions, raising questions about its long-term water security. Kopra Jalashay, a man-made reservoir, continues to serve primarily as an irrigation source, blurring its ecological role with utilitarian demands. What the headline designation often obscures is the intense competition for resources that wetlands face, particularly multi-use systems.

Another limitation is inadequate financial prioritization. While ₹900 crores were allocated under the Wetland Conservation and Management Programme during the 15th Finance Commission period for supporting wetland management nationally, this amount is minuscule when distributed across 96 Ramsar sites. Without earmarked state-specific funds, sites like Kopra and Siliserh may struggle to receive the attention they need.

Lessons from France’s Wetland Governance

India has much to learn from France, which hosts 52 Ramsar sites but approaches wetland conservation through integrated resource management tailored to local contexts. France’s "National Wetland Action Plans" ensure sustained funding and stakeholder cooperation, involving farmers, fishers, and local communities. Moreover, its circular economy approach turns organic wetland waste into inputs for agriculture, enhancing both conservation and economic usability.

In contrast, India’s wetland governance often sidelines local communities. While the Ramsar designation framework encourages participatory approaches, wetlands such as Siliserh and Kopra risk exclusionary practices. Siliserh’s tourism activity, for instance, may overlook local livelihoods, while Kopra’s irrigation demands could privilege commercial agriculture over marginal farmers. Participation cannot remain a theoretical clause; it needs clear frameworks and enforceable accountability.

Structural Weaknesses and the Political Economy of Wetlands

Managing wetlands in India is fraught with centre-state and inter-departmental friction. Environment departments focus on ecological safeguards, while irrigation and municipal agencies prioritize water extraction. Often, decision-making boils down to political gains—the danger being that Ramsar sites are treated as ceremonial titles to showcase international compliance, not conservation imperatives.

Adding to this complexity are data deficiencies. Despite digitizing wetland inventories under initiatives like the National Wetland Atlas, data on catchment inflows, water quality, or biodiversity remain outdated for many designated sites. Without accurate metrics, setting baselines or tracking progress is arduous. Wetlands trapped in such a policy vacuum can hardly meet the lofty goals of the Ramsar designation.

What Long-term Success Would Look Like

What would it take for Siliserh and Kopra to become genuine wetland success stories? First, substantial investments are required to formulate and implement state-specific wetland management plans. For instance, desilting and rainwater harvesting around Siliserh Lake could boost water inflow reliability. Second, participatory governance involving surrounding communities—not just nominal consultations—is essential. Third, cross-departmental coordination needs legal backing to resolve jurisdictional overlap.

Finally, measurement will be key. Wetland health indices tracking parameters such as species diversity, water inflow trends, and pollution levels must guide policies. Without robust monitoring, any advances will risk being cosmetic rather than substantive.

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