World Wetlands Day 2024 celebrated at Sirpur lake, a Ramsar site in Indore

World Wetlands Day 2024 celebrated at Sirpur lake, a Ramsar site in Indore

Subject: Environment

Sec: Ecosystem

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with Government of Madhya Pradesh, organized a national event at Sirpur Lake, Indore through Indore Municipal Corporation and Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation (EPCO), Government of Madhya Pradesh to celebrate World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2024.

More on news:

• The theme of WWD-2024 is ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’ which underscores the critical role wetlands play in enhancing our lives. 
• It highlights how wetlands contribute to flood protection, clean water, biodiversity and recreational opportunities, all of which are essential for human health and prosperity. 
• Three publications were also released during the event including revised guidelines for
  • ‘National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)’, 
  • ‘Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool: A Practitioners’ Guide’, and 
  • a Compendium on Phyto-diversity of Ramsar Sites in India’.
• The NPCA Guidelines 2024 provides specific guidance to the State/UT Wetland Authorities, Ramsar Site managers and knowledge partners on the regulatory framework of wetland management in India including Framework Management Plan structure and steps to be followed for its preparation.
• The compendium, developed by Botanical Survey of India, includes the rapid assessment of plant diversity in and around all the 75 Ramsar Sites of India under the aegis of Amrit Dharohar initiative of MoEF&CC and the practitioners guide is a self-appraisal tool to support adaptive wetland management and assess progress over time.
• Two brochures were also released that included a brochure titled ‘Wetlands Conservation: Approach and Initiatives’ that highlights Government of India initiatives on wetlands conservation since its inception.
• The second brochure, ‘People’s Documentation of Biodiversity of 75 Ramsar Sites’ gives an overview of the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) situated around Ramsar Sites.
• A series of educational videos developed jointly by MoEF&CC and Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), NCERT were also launched for sensitizing primary, middle and senior level school students on the importance of wetlands conservation and management.

About World Wetlands Day (WWD):

• World Wetlands Day is observed on 2nd February every year worldwide to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1971.
• India has been a party to the Convention since 1982 and on the eve of WWD 2024, India has increased its tally of Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) to 80 by designating five more wetlands as Ramsar sites. 
• Three of these sites, Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Aghanashini Estuary and Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve are located in Karnataka whereas two, Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest are in Tamil Nadu. 
• With the addition of these five wetlands to List of Wetlands of International Importance, the total area covered under Ramsar sites is now 1.33 million ha which is an increase of 5,523.87 ha from existing area (of 1.327 million ha.
• Tamil Nadu continues to have the maximum number of Ramsar Sites (16 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites). 
• India now has 80 Ramsar sites covering an area of 1.33 million hectares.
• India added five more Ramsar sites to its portfolio ahead of this year’s World Wetlands Day on February 2, taking its total tally to 80 from the existing 75.
• The Ramsar Convention sets nine criteria for identifying Wetlands of International Importance. These include sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types and sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity.

About Newly Added Sites:

The Karaivetti Birds Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu:

• The Karaivetti Birds Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu spans over 453 hectares and “is one of the most important freshwater feeding grounds for migratory water birds in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• It hosts over 188 bird species, of which 82 are water birds.
• Apart from water birds, the sanctuary is also an important nesting site for threatened species like the spotted eagle and the tawny eagle.
• The Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary is an important nesting site for the threatened spotted eagle. 

The Longwood Shola Forest in the Nilgiris(TamilNadu)

• The Longwood Shola Forest in the Nilgiris is among the “last vestiges of urban shola forest, where everything else has been lost to tea cultivation and other land use changes.
• The shola is a high-altitude wetland that acts as a water source for 18 villages downstream.
• It is also considered an Important Bird Area (IBA), hosting several endemic bird species. 
• The Longwood Shola is recognised and protected as a Reserve Forest. 

Aghanashini Estuary Karnataka:

• The mangroves along the Aghanashini river “act as a nursery for fishes and prawns.
• It is  considered an important fish breeding and spawning area. 
• Several species of fish visit nutrient rich mangrove areas for laying eggs so that the juveniles grow amidst abundance of food before they leave for the sea.
• The mangroves that flank the Aghanashini river serve as crucial nurseries for fishes and prawns and play a vital role in their breeding and spawning processes.

Magadi Kere(Karnataka)

• Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, is a human-made wetland with an area of nearly 50 hectares which was constructed to store rainwater for irrigation purposes.
• It is home to over 166 species of birds, of which 130 are migratory. 
• It is one of the largest wintering grounds for bar-headed goose in southern India

Ankasamudra Reserve(Karnataka)

• It is also an artificial tank. 
• It is home to 210 species of plants, 8 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 240 species of birds and 41 species of fishes, apart from frogs, butterflies and other insects.
• The Site is a human-made wetland built for storing monsoon run-off water coming from the Tungabhadra River and providing irrigation to surrounding drought-risk areas.
• The Site is widely known for its rich bird diversity and has been declared as a conservation reserve, managed mainly for bird protection. 

About Sirpur Lake Indore:

• Sirpur Lake was created by the Holkars of Indore State in the early 20th century.
• The lake was recognized by BirdLife International as one of the 19 important bird areas (IBAs) of Madhya Pradesh in 2015.
• In July, 2022, the Sirpur wetland was declared a Ramsar site.
• Another IBA near Indore is Yashwant Sagar, which was also declared a Ramsar site in August, 2022.

About Amrit Dharohar initiative:

• The Amrit Dharohar initiative is a part of the 2023-24 budget announcement.
• It was launched by MoEF&CC during June 2023 to promote unique conservation values of the Ramsar Sites in the country while generating employment opportunities and supporting local livelihoods.
• This initiative is to be implemented over three years in convergence with various Central Government ministries and agencies, State Wetland Authorities, and a network of formal and informal institutions and individuals, working together for a common cause.