Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur recently organised a national workshop titled '50 Years of the Ramsar Convention: Wetland Conservation in Global & Indian Contexts' on February 2, 2026.

The workshop commemorated recognition of Kopra Jalasay as Chhattisgarh's first Ramsar site.

Delivering the opening remarks Vice-Chancellor, HNLU, Prof (Dr) VC Vivekanandan spoke on the enduring relevance of the Ramsar Convention since its adoption in 1971. Prof Vivekanandan remarked,

“The World Wetlands Day and the designation of Kopra Jalashay as Ramsar Site is not merely a celebration of an international treaty or a formal designation on a global list. It's also a reaffirmation of a powerful idea that wetlands matter to nature, to people and to our shared future.”

The keynote address by Director, Wetlands International, South Asia, Dr Ritesh Kumar traced the Ramsar framework's four-decade journey in India. He highlighted India's significant progress, including the expansion of Ramsar sites, development of regulatory frameworks, and governance, ecological, and institutional challenges. His address stressed the need for a national mission on wetlands, stronger research-policy integration, enhanced financing, capacity building, and mainstreaming wetlands' education in academic curriucla. Dr Kumar stated,

“Wetlands also fall prey to ill-advised unscientific programs like concretization, beautification projects… When wetlands actually need to be placed under ICU, they are given a beauty parlor treatment”.

Legal Advisor, Chhattisgarh State Wetland Authority, Forest and Climate Change Department, Pratik Verma spoke on the Ramsar Convention’s importance as a foundational instrument of international environmental law. He elaborated on the significance of February 2 as World Wetlands Day in creating public awareness and mobilising political and institutional will for safeguarding these fragile ecosystems.

The programme was conceived and organized  by the Head, Centre for Law & Sciences, Dr Debmita Mondal and was assisted by Head, Centre for Environmental Laws, HNLU Dr Rana Navneet Roy in collaboration with Wetlands International, South Asia, Chhattisgarh State Wetland Authority, and the Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity Board.

A student of HNLU, LL.M. Himanshi Thakur anchored the event. 

The workshop witnessed active participation from faculty members, researchers, students of HNLU, and more than 80 participants from across the country.

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