UPSC Prelims 2014 Q10: Environment & Ecology – Water & Wetland Conservation
With reference to a conservation organization called ‘Wetlands International’, which of the
following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to
Ramsar Convention.
2. It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience
to advocate for better policies.
Select the correct answer
using the code given below.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Wetlands International
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention | Incorrect | It is a global not-for-profit organisation, not an intergovernmental body |
| 2. It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies | Correct | This is how it describes its own work |
Key facts:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | The Netherlands |
| Link with Ramsar | One of the Convention's International Organization Partners |
| Known for | Asian Waterbird Census and waterbird population estimates |
| In India | Wetlands International South Asia, New Delhi |
The Ramsar Convention (1971) is the intergovernmental treaty; its secretariat is at Gland, Switzerland.
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. It is not an intergovernmental organization of Ramsar signatories.
- (b) CORRECT. It works at the field level and uses that experience to advocate for better policies.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false; it is an independent not-for-profit body.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2 is true.
Key point
Wetlands International: global not-for-profit (Netherlands); a Ramsar partner organisation; runs the Asian Waterbird Census.
Remember
Wetlands International = NGO, Ramsar partner.
Common mistakes
- Treating a partner of the Ramsar Convention as its official body.
- Assuming 'International' in a name means intergovernmental.
- Confusing it with the Ramsar Secretariat in Switzerland.
Exam tip
IUCN, WWF, BirdLife and Wetlands International are partners of Ramsar, not organs of it.
Sources
- Wetlands International — About us
- Ramsar Convention Secretariat — International Organization Partners