Overview
- The official theme highlighted by the Ramsar Secretariat is “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.”
- Pakistan’s president and prime minister linked conservation to the Indus Waters Treaty, voicing concern over unilateral actions and rejecting the use of water as a weapon.
- Pakistan’s climate ministry detailed measures including wetland mapping, stronger protection of Ramsar sites, removal of encroachments, improved water governance, pollution control and integration into flood management.
- India marked the day by presenting Ramsar certificates for three Bihar wetlands, taking the national total to 98 sites, with officials noting the oxbow lakes serve as natural buffers for the Ganga and Gandak.
- Experts warned that shrinking urban wetlands are weakening flood resilience and water security in cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, as governments and civil society ran festivals, clean‑ups and birdwatching events across multiple states.