Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday (30 August 2023) directed the district officials to take more effective action to protect the wetlands along with the Kandal forests in the state. According to the National Wetland Atlas, the survey of about 23 thousand wetlands in the state should be done by a central government-recognised organization. The Chief Minister said that  it is important to protect Kandal forests keeping in view their importance for the protection of sea coasts. He also said that the reports should be presented within a year.

The fifth meeting of the Maharashtra Wetlands Authority was held at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

Wetlands are being protected all over the country and such places are given Ramsar status. There are a total of 75 Ramsar sites in the country, out of which Nandur Madhyameshwar near Nashik, Lonar Sarovar in Buldana, and Thane Khadi are situated in Maharashtra.