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Q10 (IAS/2014) Environment & Ecology › Climate Change & Global Initiatives › Climate governance initiatives Official Key

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.

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

**Explanation:**

Statement 1 is incorrect. Wetlands International is not an intergovernmental organization formed by Ramsar Convention signatories. The Ramsar Convention has 169 Contracting Parties (Member States) as of January 2016[1], but Wetlands International operates as an independent non-governmental organization (NGO), not as an intergovernmental body created by these countries. Ramsar International Organisation Partners (IOPs) include non-governmental organisations (NGOs)[2], and Wetlands International functions in this capacity.

Statement 2 is correct. Wetlands International does work at field level to develop and mobilize knowledge and uses practical experience for policy advocacy. The organization's approach aligns with conservation practices that are based on rigorous scientific data and practical applied experience to ensure that environmental policymakers and practitioners have the tools, capital and capacity[3] to address wetland conservation issues.

Therefore, only statement 2 is correct, making option B the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] https://www.ramsar.org/sites/default/files/documents/library/handbook1_5ed_introductiontoconvention_final_e.pdf
  2. [2] https://iucn.org/sites/default/files/ibrri_strategic_plan_final_may2019.pdf
  3. [3] https://iucn.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/decisions-of-the-113th-meeting-of-the-iucn-council-7-9-may-2025-w-annexes-1-28_compressed.pdf
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Q. With reference to a conservation organization called 'Wetlands International', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'Identity Swap' trap. UPSC loves to confuse aspirants by presenting a well-known NGO as an Intergovernmental body (UN/Treaty-based). The key was knowing that while Wetlands International partners with Ramsar, it is not a body created by the treaty itself.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is Wetlands International an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries that are signatories to the Ramsar Convention?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) > p. 53
Strength: 5/5
“The convention on wetlands (Ramsar-lran, 1971)-called the Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitment of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands of international importance and to plan for the 'wise-use' or sustainable use. The Ramsar convention works with collaboration of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Wetlands International, WWF International. Any wetland, to be declared a wetland of international importance, should support vulnerable, endangered or threatened species and attract more than 20,000 water birds. In India, the scheme on conservation and management of wetlands was initiated in 1987.”
Why relevant

Explicitly lists Wetlands International among organisations that 'work with collaboration' with the Ramsar Convention, alongside IUCN, IWMI and WWF International.

How to extend

A student could note that those named collaborators (e.g., WWF, IUCN) are well-known NGOs/actors rather than sovereign states, so infer Wetlands International is likely a non-state partner rather than an intergovernmental body formed by Ramsar signatory countries.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > tu'J Li :EilVINO.NM > p. 397
Strength: 4/5
“r The year 2021 also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, celebrated annually as World Wetlands Day. • Ram extsuperscript{a} r is not affiliated with the United Nations system of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, but it works very closely with the other MEAs and is a full partner among the extquotesingle biodiversity-related cluster' of treaties and agreements. • World Wetlands Day, February 2 every year. Number of Contracting Parties: 163.”
Why relevant

States the Ramsar Convention has 'Contracting Parties: 163', indicating the convention's membership consists of contracting parties (i.e., countries).

How to extend

A student can combine this with the collaborator list to reason that membership/formation of an intergovernmental body would normally be described in terms of 'Contracting Parties' or states, so an organisation named as a collaborator is less likely to be the intergovernmental body formed by those countries.

INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Littoral and Swamp Forests > p. 45
Strength: 3/5
“India has a rich variety of wetland habitats. About 70 per cent of this comprises areas under paddy cultivation. The total area of wet land is 3.9 million hectares. Two sites — Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur) are protected as water-fowl habitats under the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention). An international convention is an agreement among member states of the United Nations.”
Why relevant

Defines an international convention as 'an agreement among member states of the United Nations', reinforcing that conventions' parties are states.

How to extend

Using this rule, a student could check whether Wetlands International is described as a party/state member of the convention (it is not in the snippets) versus as a collaborating organisation, supporting the hypothesis that it is not the intergovernmental organisation formed by the signatory states.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Statement analysis

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With reference to an organization known as 'BirdLife International', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations. 2. The concept of 'biodiversity hotspots' originated from this organization. 3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas'. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments. 2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments. 3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IAS · 2012 · Q71 Relevance score: 0.69

With reference to the wetlands of India, consider the following statements: 1. The country’s total geographical area under the category of wetlands is recorded more in Gujarat as compared to other States. 2. In India, the total geographical area of coastal wetlands is larger than that of inland wetlands. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?