What is the name of the scheme aimed at conservation of wetlands, which was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24? 

Key Points

• Amrit Dharohar is the name of the scheme aimed at the conservation of wetlands, which was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
• The scheme is designed to enhance the protection and management of wetlands across India.
• Wetlands are crucial ecosystems that support a wide range of biodiversity and provide numerous environmental benefits such as water filtration, flood control, and carbon sequestration.
• The initiative is part of the government's broader efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation.

Additional Information

• Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods during the year, including during the growing season.
• India is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
• The Ramsar Convention aims to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve, through wise use and management, those that remain.
• India has 89 Ramsar sites, covering an area of over 1.3 million hectares.
• Conserving wetlands can also help in achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to water, climate action, and life on land.