Three more Ramsar wetland sites now in India, taking total to 85

Sub: Env

Sec: Protected Areas

Addition of New Ramsar Sites in India:

Three new wetlands in India are designated as Ramsar sites, increasing the total to 85.
The new sites are the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.

India’s Commitment to the Ramsar Convention:

India became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 1982, a global treaty signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
Between 1982 and 2013, India added 26 wetlands to the Ramsar list. From 2014 to 2024, an additional 59 sites were included.
- Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar sites in India, with 18, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10.
- Gujarat has the largest wetland area in India, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
- Wetlands in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat are particularly important for migratory birds, and all wetlands are significant for their role in carbon sequestration.
India’s Ramsar wetlands account for about 10% of the country’s total wetland area across 18 states, more than any other South Asian country.
The National Wetland Inventory and Assessment estimates India’s wetlands cover approximately 1,52,600 sq. km., or 4.63% of the country’s total area, with 19 types of wetlands identified.

Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary:

Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary is a protected area and bird sanctuary located in Tiruppur district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The sanctuary covers an area of 1.26 km2 (0.49 sq mi) and was notified in 2022.
It was designated as a Ramsar site of International importance in 2024.
It is a large shallow wetland. The lake derived it’s name from King Nanjarayan who repaired and restored the lake during his reign.

Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary:

Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary is a protected area and bird sanctuary located in Villupuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The sanctuary covers an area of 51.56 km2 (19.91 sq mi) and was notified in 2021.
It was designated as a Ramsar site of international importance in 2024.
The sanctuary has the brakish shallow Kazhuveli lake, which is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the brackish Uppukalli creek and the Edayanthittu Estuary.

Tawa reservoir:

Tawa Reservoir is a reservoir on the Tawa River in central India.
It is located in Itarsi of Narmadapuram District of Madhya Pradesh state, above Betul district.
The reservoir was formed by the construction of the Tawa Dam.
The dam provides for irrigation to several thousand hectares of farming land in Narmadapuram and Harda districts.
Tawa Reservoir forms the western boundary of Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.

Source: TH