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Source-This post on Ramsar sites has been created based on the article “Shri Bhupender Yadav says India increases its tally of Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) to 80 by adding Five more wetlands to the list on the eve of World Wetlands Day 2024 (2nd February)” published in “PIB” on 31 January 2024.
Why in the news?
India has increased its tally of Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) to 80 from existing 75 by designating five more wetlands as Ramsar sites.
About Ramsar site
| Aspect | Details |
| About | 1) Ramsar Sites, also known as Wetlands of International Importance, are designated areas under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. 2) The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. 3) There are over 2,400 Ramsar Sites covering 2.5 million sq km on the territories of 171 Ramsar Contracting Parties across the world. 4) The world’s first site was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974. 5) The countries with the most Ramsar Sites are the United Kingdom with 175 and Mexico with 142. |
| Objective | to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, recognizing their ecological importance. |
| Latest addition to Ramsar sites in India | 1) Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu 2) Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Karnataka 3) Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu 4) Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka 5) Aghanashini Estuary, Karnataka |
| Features of recently added Ramsar site | 1) Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary-It is centred around a large freshwater lake. This lake is the focal point of the sanctuary and serves as a crucial habitat for a variety of bird species, both resident and migratory. It supports 1% population of Black-headed iblis and oriental Darter. 2) Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve-The bar-headed goose is one of the birds which migrate to Magadi wetlands. 3) Longwood Shola Reserve Forest-it derives its name from the Tamil word, “Solai”, which means a ‘tropical rain forest’. It maintains the hydrological regime of the region, by capturing rainwater through marshes and then releasing it via streams. It is home to the threatened Nilgiri marten and other rare fauna and flora. 4) Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve-It is the only place in Karnatka where Great Indian Bustard can be seen. 5) Aghanashini Estuary– It is formed at the confluence of Aghanashini River with the Arabian sea. The brackish water of the Estuary provides diverse ecosystem services including flood and erosion risk mitigation, biodiversity conservation and livelihood support. |
| States having largest number of Ramsar sites | 1) Tamilnadu-16 2) Uttar Pradesh-10 3) Odisha-6 4) Punjab-6 |
UPSC Syllabus-Environment
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