Context

• The central government has launched a mission to promote tourism at ecologically sensitive wetlands known as Ramsar sites, such as Odisha's Chilika Lake and Haryana's Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary.

 Key Points

• This will focus on transitioning these fragile wetlands from high-value tourism to nature tourism by directly supporting conservation action and giving leadership to local communities and economies.
• The initiative to develop these sites has been taken by the Union Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the 'Amrit Heritage Capacity Building Scheme' 2023.
• The Amrit Dharohar Pahal, as a part of the Budget 2023-24 announcement, was launched during June 2023 to promote the unique conservation values of Ramsar sites in the country while generating employment opportunities and supporting local livelihoods .
• The scheme is being implemented by various Central Government Ministries and Agencies, State Wetland Authorities and a network of formal and informal institutions and individuals working together towards a common objective.

 Ramsar sites

• The Ramsar site is a wetland designated of international importance under an environmental treaty signed in February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of UNESCO.
• Ramsar identifies wetlands of international importance.
• There are 75 Ramsar sites in India – Chilika Lake and Bhitarkanika Mangroves of Odisha, Sundarbans of West Bengal, Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu are some of the famous Ramsar sites in India.