Environment & Ecology : International Environmental Conventions
Statement 3 is correct. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, provided a broad definition of wetlands and, significantly, extended their scope to include the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands, as determined by the designated authority. This provision recognized the hydrological integrity and the necessity of managing the surrounding landscape for effective wetland conservation.
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Ramsar Convention (1971) commits its contracting parties to the conservation and wise use of wetlands, particularly those designated as Ramsar Sites. However, it does not impose a mandatory legal obligation on the Government of India, or any other contracting party, to protect and conserve *all* wetlands within its territory. The convention primarily encourages national policies and international cooperation for wetland conservation.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, were notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (now MoEF&CC) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These rules represented India's domestic legal framework for wetland governance. While the general principles of wetland conservation, including those promoted by the Ramsar Convention, may have influenced their formulation, the rules were not directly framed "based on" specific recommendations of the Ramsar Convention.