Ramsar Sites

There are 99 Ramsar sites, covering 13,60,805.63 hectares, in India as of 22 April 2026.[1] These wetlands are deemed to be of “international importance” under the Ramsar Convention. For a full list of all Ramsar sites worldwide, see the list of Ramsar wetlands of international importance.

Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar sites in India with 20.[2] Till 2014, there were 26 Ramsar sites across India. Since 2014, 67 new Ramsar sites have been added across India.

According to the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules of 2017, the Indian government's definition of wetlands does not include river channels, paddy fields, or other areas utilized for commercial activities.[3]

According to WWF-India, wetlands are one of the most threatened of all ecosystems in India. Loss of vegetation, salinization, excessive inundation, water pollution, invasive species, excessive development and road building, have all damaged the country's wetlands.