Three more Ramsar wetland sites now in India, taking total to 85
- August 15, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
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