Gandhinagar, Jan 31 (NationPress) Porbandar is set to host the eighth International Wetland Seminar-cum-Workshop on February 1 and 2, showcasing Gujarat's unwavering dedication to wetland conservation and the appreciation of traditional ecological knowledge.

This two-day event, organized by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation, will gather scientists, policymakers, forest officials, and community stakeholders from both India and around the globe.

The seminar will be inaugurated on February 1 by Forest and Environment Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia, with Minister of State Pravin Mali also in attendance.

Coinciding with World Wetlands Day on February 2, the event aligns with the 2026 global theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” which emphasizes the relationship between wetlands, local wisdom, and cultural practices.

Officials have indicated that the seminar aims to bolster understanding of how indigenous knowledge contributes to sustainable wetland conservation and management.

Additionally, the seminar will act as a capacity-building platform for forest department officers, researchers, universities, and citizens involved with wetland ecosystems.

Technical workshops on both days will feature experts sharing scientific findings and practical experiences related to wetland protection.

A key topic of discussion will be Gujarat’s role in India's wetland landscape. According to the National Wetland Atlas 2021 by SAC–ISRO, the wetlands in Gujarat cover roughly 3.49 lakh hectares.

This accounts for 21.9 percent of India's total wetland area and approximately 17.8 percent of Gujarat’s geographical area, positioning it as one of the leading states in wetland coverage.

Recent policy advancements will also be a significant focus.

During the third meeting of the Gujarat State Wetland Authority, chaired by Modhwadia and attended by Mali, the state government proposed three new Ramsar sites to the Centre: Gosabara–Mokar Sagar in Porbandar, Chhari Dhandh in Kutch, and Flamingo City Wetland.

Chhari Dhandh achieved Ramsar status recently. The meeting also tasked the foundation with conducting ground-truthing and demarcation of wetlands, emphasizing the need to identify urban wetlands and incorporate them into urban planning.

Porbandar was chosen as the venue due to its ecological importance. The district, home to the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary and the Gosabara–Mokar Sagar wetland complex, supports large populations of both resident and migratory birds.

Its coastal and estuarine ecosystems also provide habitats for marine turtles, marine mammals, and a diverse array of bird species.

The GEER Foundation, the principal agency for wetlands in Gujarat, has organized seven previous international seminar-cum-workshops since 2016–17, concentrating on wetland inventory, monitoring, training, policy support, and raising public awareness through both print and digital media.