Ramsar sites are created under Ramsar convention. It was signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar and is one of the oldest inter-governmental accord for preserving the ecological character of wetlands. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.Its aim is to develop and maintain an 
international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits.Wetlands declared as Ramsar sites are protected under strict guidelines of the convention.
India has added 10 more wetlands to the sites protected by the Ramsar Convention.
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- Maharashtra: Nandur (state’s first).
- Punjab: Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve and Nangal.
- Uttar Pradesh: Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi and SarsaiNawar.
By granting the status of Ramsar site the protection level as per the guidelines increases. It comes under the focus of the Government, NGO, state government, civil society to ensure that further degradation of wetlands can be prevented. The site branding also increases its tourism value.