Ramsar Convention on Wetland: Indian Ramsar Sites

 

Table of Contents

Ramsar Convention on Wetland

Why in News?

About Ramsar Convention on Wetland

Ramsar Sites in India

What is the Montreux Record?

List of Wetlands in India under Ramsar Sites (State-wise)

Interesting facts about Ramsar Convention

 

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLAND

Why in News?

In August 2022, India added 11 New wetlands in to the list of Ramsar Sites. Which is included from states: Tamil Nadu – 4, Odisha – 3, Jammu & Kashmir – 2, and one each from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

11 New Ramsar Sites in India


Recently, the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands began to discuss the state of wetlands globally. It was co-hosted of Wuhan (China) and Geneva (Switzerland).

 

ABOUT RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLAND:

What is RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLAND?

It is also known as the ‘Convention on Wetlands’. Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty. Which is established by UNESCO in 1971.

For national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

 

Why is it known as Ramsar Convention?

Adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 2nd February 1971.

And came into force in 1975.

 

When Celebrate World’s Wetland Day?

Every year on 2nd February.

 

What is Wetland?

Wetlands are ecosystems saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently. Which supports aquatic as well as terrestrial species. e.g., mangroves, marshes, rivers, lakes, deltas, floodplains and flooded forests, rice-fields, coral reefs etc.

The wetland covers approx. 6% of the Earth’s land surface, 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands.

 

Ramsar Sites in India:

  • Total Ramsar sites in India at present 75.
  • State having the most number of Ramsar sites: Tamil Nadu (14) and UP (10).
  • Largest wetland under the Ramsar convention: Sundarbans, West Bengal (423,000 hectares).
  • Smallest wetland in India under Ramsar site in India: Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh (20 hectares).
  • First Wetland under Ramsar convention (in India): Chilka Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) in 1981.
  • India is one of the contracting parties to Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
  • The convention in forced in India on 1st February, 1982.
  • Goa and Karnataka got there first Ramsar Sites, this year (in 2022).  
  • Gujarat is at the top with 34,749.5 sq. km followed by Andhra Pradesh (14,471.33 sq. km), Uttar Pradesh (12,425.3 sq. km) and West Bengal (11,079.07 sq. km).

Note:

Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan and Loktak Lake, Manipur have been included in Montreux Record in 1990 and in 1993 respectively.

What is the Montreux Record?

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

 

List of Wetlands in India under Ramsar Sites (State-wise)

Jammu and Kashmir

1)      Hokera Wetland

2)      Surinsar- Mansar lakes

3)      Wular lake

4)      Tsomoriri Lake

5)      Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve

6)      Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve

 

Punjab

1)      Beas Conservation Reserve

2)      Harike Wetlands

3)      Kanjli Wetland

4)      Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve

5)      Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary

6)      Ropar Wetland

 

Himachal Pradesh

1)      Chandra Taal

2)      Pong Dam Lake

3)      Renuka lake

 

Uttarakhand

1)      Asan Barrage

 

Rajasthan

1)      Keoladeo National Park

2)      Sambhar Lake

 

Uttar Pradesh

1)      Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

2)      Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary

3)      Saman Bird Sanctuary

4)      Samaspur Bird Sanctuary

5)      Sandi Bird Sanctuary

6)      Sarsai Nawar Jheel

7)      Sur Sarovar

8)      Upper-Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)

9)      Haiderpur Wetland

10)   Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Bihar

1)      Kanwar Lake or Kabal Taal

 

West Bengal

1)      East Kolkata Wetlands

2)      Sunderban Wetland

 

Odisha

1)      Chilika Lake

2)      Bhitarkanika Mangroves

3)      Satkosia Gorge

4)      Tampara Lake

5)      Hirakud Reservoir

6)      Ansupa Lake

7)      Yashwant Sagar

 

Madhya Pradesh

1)      Bhoj Wetlands

2)      Sirpur wetland

3)      Sakhya Sagar

4)      Yashwant Sagar

 

Gujarat

1)      Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary

2)      Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

3)      Wadhvana Wetland

4)      Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Maharashtra

1)      Nandur Madhameshwar

2)      Lonar Lake

3)      Thane Creek

 

Andhra Pradesh

1)      Kolleru lake

 

Tamil Nadu

1)      Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary

2)      Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary

3)      Karikili Bird Sanctuary

4)      Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest

5)      Pichavaram Mangrove

6)      Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve

7)      Vembannur Wetland Complex

8)      Vellode Bird Sanctuary

9)      Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

10)   Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary

11)   Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary

12)   Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex

13)   Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary

14)   Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary

 

Kerala

1)      Vembanad Kol Wetland

2)      Sasthamkotta lake

3)      Ashtamudi Wetland

 

Assam

1)      Deepor Beel

 

Tripura

1)      Rudrasagar Lake

 

Manipur

1)      Loktak lake

 

Haryana

1)      Sultanpur National Park

2)      Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Karnataka

1)      Ranganathituu BS

 

Goa

1)      Nanda Lake

 

Mizoram

1)      Pala wetland

 

Interesting facts about Ramsar Convention:

  • The total number of contracting parties is 172.
  • The countries with the most Ramsar Sites are the United Kingdom with 175 and Mexico with 142.
  • With 148,000 square kilometres, Bolivia is the country with the most land declared for protection under the Ramsar Convention.
  • Canada, Chad, Congo, and the Russian Federation have also designated over 100,000 square kilometres.

 



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