Context: Recently, Haiderpur wetland in Uttar Pradesh recognised as Ramsar Site and become 47th Ramsar site of India.
Key Points

• India has designated the Haiderpur wetland, which is about 10 km from Bijnor, as the country's 47th Ramsar site and 2,463rd Ramsar site internationally. 
• Located within the boundaries of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, this Wetland of International Importance is human-made wetland covering an area of 6,908 hectares and was formed in 1984 after the construction of the Madhya Ganga Barrage on the floodplains of Ganga. 
• Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. 
• They are, in fact, are a major source of water and our main supply of freshwater comes from an array of wetlands which help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater. 
• Haiderpur Wetland provides habitat for numerous animal and plant species, including more than 30 species of plants, over 300 species of birds, including 102 waterbirds, more than 40 fish and more than 10 mammal species. 
• This diverse habitat supports more than 15 globally threatened species, such as the critically endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and the endangered hog deer (Axis porcinus), black-bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda), steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) and gold mahseer (Tor putitora).
• Haiderpur Wetland also helps to support the livelihoods of the local communities and contributes to the maintenance of hydrological regimes and to hazard reduction. 
• It is used for recreation and tourism, and scientific and educational activities also associated with the Site.

Ramsar sites

• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
• Ramsar sites are wetlands considered to be of international importance.
• It recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.
• Aim: To develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem.
• It defines wetland as areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, Permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres”.

Three pillars of the Convention

• Ensuring the conservation and wise use of wetlands it has designated as Wetlands of International Importance,
• Including as far as possible the wise use of all wetlands in national environmental planning,
• Consulting with other Parties about implementation of the Convention, especially in regard to transboundary wetlands, shared water systems, and shared species.

Ramsar sites in India

Montreux Record

• It is a register of wetland sites on the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance where changes in ecological character have occurred or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
• It is maintained as part of the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance.
• At present Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan and Loktak Lake, Manipur are the two Indian sites listed under it.