In March 2025, who became the first Indian to receive the Ramsar Award for ‘Wetland Wise Use’?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (C) Jayshree Vencatesan

Explanation:

• Jayshree Vencatesan, co-founder of Care Earth Trust in Chennai, became the first Indian to receive the Ramsar Award for 'Wetland Wise Use' in March 2025.
• She was one of 12 women globally honored by the Ramsar Secretariat under its Women Changemakers in the World of Wetlands initiative, announced on the eve of International Women's Day.
• Her award recognized her decades-long dedication to preserving India's wetlands, particularly the Pallikaranai Marsh in Chennai, which is home to over 337 species of flora and fauna.
• Vencatesan's efforts have transformed the perception of wetlands from "wastelands" to vital ecological assets, emphasizing their role in flood mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

Information Booster:

• Pallikaranai Marsh: This urban wetland in Chennai plays a crucial role in flood control and supports a rich biodiversity, thanks to Vencatesan's conservation initiatives.
• Care Earth Trust: Established in 2000, this all-women NGO focuses on biodiversity conservation through research, advocacy, and capacity building.
• Challenges Faced: Vencatesan highlighted that bureaucratic hurdles, outdated land titles, and rigid protocols often impede wetland conservation efforts more than environmental degradation itself.

Additional Knowledge:

(A) Medha Patkar

• Medha Patkar is a prominent Indian social activist known for her work in the Narmada Bachao Andolan, focusing on issues related to large-scale development projects rather than wetland conservation.

(B) Vandana Shiva

• Vandana Shiva is an Indian scholar and environmental activist known for her work in ecological agriculture and the protection of biodiversity, with a focus on agriculture and food systems rather than wetland conservation.

(D) Sunita Narain

• Sunita Narain is an Indian environmentalist and director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), known for her work on climate change, water management, and pollution control, but not specifically recognized for efforts in wetland-wise use.