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India has added 10 more Ramsar sites, or wetlands that are of international importance, taking the number of such sites to 64. India is aiming at getting a Ramsar tag for 75 of its wetlands on the 75th year of Independence.

Wetlands in India:

  • Wetlands cover 6.4 per cent of the geographical area of the world.
  • The National Wetland Inventory and Assessment compiled by the ISRO estimates India’s wetlands to span around 1,52,600 square kilometres which is 4.63 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.
  • So far, 64 wetlands covering an area of 12,50,361 ha have been designated as Ramsar Sites of International Importance from India.
  • The U.K. (175) and Mexico (142) — smaller countries than India — have the most Ramsar sites, whereas Bolivia spans the largest area with 1,48,000 sq.km under the Convention protection.

How can a site qualify to be a RAMSAR site?

  • If supporting vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities
  • If it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds
  • If it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks are dependent upon.

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Wetlands in India

RAMSAR Sites in India:

State/UT Names of Sites
Andhra Pradesh Kolleru Lake
Assam Deepor Beel
Bihar Kanwar Lake
Goa Nanda Lake
Gujarat Khijadiya, Nalsarovar, Thol Lake, Wadhvana Wetland
Haryana Sultanpur National Park, Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
Himachal Pradesh Chandra Taal, Pong Dam Lake, Renuka Lake
Jammu and Kashmir Hokersar Wetland, Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Wular Lake
Karnataka Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
kerala Ashtamudi Wetland, Sasthamkotta Lake, Vembanad-Kol Wetland
Ladakh Tsomoriri, Tso Kar
Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Wetland, Sakhya Sagar, Sirpur Wetland
Maharashtra Nandur Madhameshwar, Lonar Lake
Manipur Loktak Lake
Mizoram Pala Wetland
Odisha Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Chilika Lake, Satkosia Gorge
Punjab Beas Conservation Reserve, Harike Wetland, Kanjli Wetland, Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve, Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Ropar Wetland
Rajasthan Keoladeo National Park, Sambhar Lake,
Tamil Nadu Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Pichavaram Mangrove, Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Vembanur Wetland Complex, Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary.
Tripura Rudrasagar Lake
Uttar Pradesh Bakhira Sanctuary, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary, Saman Bird Sanctuary, Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Sarsai Nawar Jheel, Sur Sarovar, Upper Ganga River
Uttarakhand Asan Barrage
West Bengal East Kolkata Wetlands, Sundarban Wetland

Practice  Mains Question:

Wetlands are critical to human and planet life. In light of this, discuss the significance and threat to wetlands and efforts for wetland conservation. (15 marks)

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RAMSAR Sites in India : UPSC Current Affairs Booster
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RAMSAR Sites in India : UPSC Current Affairs Booster
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India has added 10 more Ramsar sites, or wetlands that are of international importance, taking the number of such sites to 64. Let's dig in to know more.
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