In News: Union Government has designated five new wetlands of international importance, taking the total number of Ramsar sites in the country to 54. What’s in today’s article: Ramsar Convention – About, Ramsar site, significance of Ramsar site designation, Ramsar sites in India News Summary Ramsar Convention: The Ramsar Convention, signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, is the only global treaty that focuses specifically on wetlands . It is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Objective : To halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve, through wise use and management, those that remain. Members : 170 countries are signatories to the convention. A contracting party agrees to nominate at least one wetland in its territory to the List of Wetlands of International Importance based on enumerated criteria. Ramsar Site A Ramsar Site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance. Wetlands include swamps, ma...