Just before the 75th year of India’s independence, India added 11 more wetlands (4 in Tamil Nadu, 3 in Odisha, 2 in J&K, 1 in Madhya Pradesh, and 1 in Maharashtra) to the list of Ramsar sites. Presently, there are 75 wetlands in India that are part of Ramsar sites. Indian sites cover an area of approximately 13,26,677 hectares of land. As of August 2022, there are 2,453 Ramsar sites around the world, protecting around 25,57,92,244 hectares of land or 63,20,76,400 acres. A total of 171 countries are the contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, on February 3, 1971 and was agreed by the representatives of 18 nations. The treaty is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements which was negotiated through the 1960s by countries and non-governmental organisations, concerned about the increasing loss and degradation of wetland habitat for migratory waterbirds. The convention came into force after UNESCO, the convention’s depositary, received an instrument of accession from Greece in 1975. The convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”. Almost 90 per cent of the UN member-states from all over the world have acceded to become contracting parties to the convention since 1975.
India is one of the contracting parties to Ramsar Convention. India signed the convention on February 1, 1982. From 1982 to 2013, India added a total of 26 sites to the list of Ramsar sites. However, from 2014 to 2022, India added a massive 49 new wetlands to the list. Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of Ramsar sites (14) in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh (10).
The recently added eleven Ramsar sites are as follows:
Tampara Lake Tampara Lake is situated in Ganjam district of Odisha and is one of the most prominent freshwater lakes of the state. The British gave the name ‘Tamp’ to this site as the depression on the ground was gradually filled with rainwater from the catchment flow. Subsequently, the locals started calling it ‘Tampra’. This wetland has been home to at least 60 species of birds, 46 species of fishes, at least 48 species of phytoplanktons, and more than 7 species of terrestrial plants and macrophytes, which provide food for a wide range of water animals. It is an important habitat for vulnerable species such as Eurasian carp or common carp (Cyprinus carpio), common pochard (Aythya ferina), and river tern (Sterna aurantia). It has an estimated average fish yield of 12 tonnes per year and is an important source of livelihood for the local communities. Tampara Lake also provides water for agriculture and domestic use. It is also a well-known tourism and recreation site.
Hirakud Reservoir Hirakud Reservoir is the largest earthen dam in Odisha which started functioning in 1957. This dam has been constructed with earth material such as gravel, broken weathered rock, sand, silt, or soil. It has a core of clay or other waterproof material. There are about 54 species of fish in the reservoir. One of the species has been under the endangered category, while 6 are near-threatened, and 21 fish species are of economic importance. Over 130 bird species have been recorded at this site. Some 20 species of birds here are of high conservation significance. The fisheries here yield around 480 metric tonnes (MT) of fish annually and are the primary livelihood of about 7,000 households in the area. The reservoir produces about 300 MW of hydroelectricity. The reservoir helps in the irrigation of about 4,36,000 hectares of cultural command area besides moderating floods in the Mahanadi river delta, which is the ecological and socio-economic hub of the east coast of India. The site is also an acclaimed tourist place with many tourist sites located around Sambalpur with an annual tourist visits of over 30,000 tourists.
Ansupa Lake Ansupa Lake is the largest freshwater lake situated in Cuttack district of Odisha. It has immense scenic beauty, biodiversity, and natural resources, and is a place of tourist attraction. Ansupa Lake is an oxbow lake formed by River Mahanadi. It was a curved lake that was originally a bend in River Mahanadi, but it became separated when the river took a new and straighter course. The lake is spread over an area of 231 hectares of land. It is home to at least 194 species of birds, 61 species of fishes, and 26 species of mammals, besides 244 species of macrophytes. This lake provides a safe habitat to at least 3 threatened bird species, namely, Rynchops albicollis (endangered), Sterna acuticauda (EN) and Sterna aurantia (vulnerable) as well as 3 threatened fish species, namely, Clarias magur (Clariidae) (EN), Cyprinus carpio (Cyprinidae) (VU), and Wallago attu (VU). The site is also a major wintering ground for migratory birds. Through fisheries and agriculture, the lake supports the livelihood of the local communities and sustains the freshwater demands of the surrounding areas.
Yashwant Sagar Yashwant Sagar, located in Indore (declared as the cleanest city of India), is one of the most important birding sites in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the important bird areas (IBAs) in the Indore region. This site is important for the conservation of bird populations. This wetland is primarily used for water supply to the city of Indore. Spread over an area of more than 822 hectares, it is also being used for fish culture on a commercial scale. The catchment area of this wetland is predominantly agriculture. Yashwant Sagar is home to the vulnerable Sarus Crane in Central India. The lake’s backwaters have plenty of shallow areas, conducive for waders and other waterfowl. As the water level recedes, many islands serve as roosting sites for waterfowl. Yashwant Sagar attracts a large number of winter migratory birds due to its vast shallow reedbeds.
Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary is located in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. Locally known as ‘Chitrangudi Kanmoli’, it comes under the jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Ramanathapuram division and is spread over 260 hectares of land. It is a protected area since 1989. It is an ideal habitat for winter migratory birds. Around 50 bird species (47 water birds and 3 terrestrial birds) belonging to 30 families have been reported from this site. Notable waterbirds spotted from the site area include spot-billed pelican, little egret, grey heron, large egret, open billed stork, purple, and pond herons. The site is surrounded by agricultural fields, where different crops are grown throughout the year. This wetland also supports a number of fishes, amphibians, molluscs, and aquatic insects. Their larvae form a good source of food for the migratory waterbirds. The site is also used for extracting groundwater for irrigation around and within the wetland.
Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex Suchindram Theroor Wetland is a part of the Suchindram-Theroor Manakudi Conservation Reserve. An important IBA, Suchindram lies at the southern tip of the Central Asian flyway of migratory birds. It was formed for birds’ nesting purposes and attracts thousands of birds every year. Spread over an area of 94 hectares of land, the total population here is 10,500 which is dependent upon Theroor. The livelihood of 75 per cent of the population is agriculture, which is dependent upon the water released from the man-made inland Theroor tank which is perennial. A copper plate inscriptions from the 9th century find mention of Pasumkulam, Venchikulam, Nedumarthukulam, Perumkulam, Elemchikulam, and Konadunkulam. Around 250 species of birds (53 migratory, 12 endemic, and 4 threatened) have been recorded in this area.
Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary is located in Vaduvoor Lake, in Mannargudi Taluk, Thiruvavur district in Tamil Nadu. Spread over an area of 112 hectares of land, the site is a large man-made irrigation tank and is a shelter for migratory birds. It provides a suitable environment for food shelter and breeding ground for migratory birds. It has the potential to harbour good populations of resident and wintering waterbirds. However, there are no studies done to confirm this. Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) is found in most of the tanks in this sanctuary. Large concentrations of wintering waterfowl such as Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Garganey (Anas querquedula) were also found here. This site has a diverse habitat, including a number of inlets. It is surrounded by irrigated agricultural fields which provide good nesting and foraging habitats for birds. Thus, this wetland provides support to many mentioned species during critical stages of their life cycle.
Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary, declared a wetland in 1989, is a protected area near Mudukulathur in Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu. It is a notable nesting site for several migratory birds, such as heron species that roost in the prominent growth of babul trees in the wetlands. The breeding population of migratory waterbirds arrive here between October and February. Painted stork, white ibis, black ibis, little egret, and great egret are some of the main visitors here. This site is also an IBA as the threatened species, spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), breed here. Many globally near-threatened species like spot-billed pelican, oriental darter, oriental white ibis, and painted stork and also commonly occurring shore and water birds like greenshank, plovers, stilts, and forest birds like bee-eaters, bulbuls, cuckoos, starlings, barbets, etc., migrate to this wetland as it exhibits rich biodiversity. This wetland acts as a breeding, nesting, roosting, foraging, and stopover site for the birds. This wetland supports International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of vulnerable avian species like river tern (Sterna aurantia).
Thane Creek Thane Creek is located in Maharashtra. There are several sources of fresh water to the creek, mainly the Ulhas river. It also has many drainage channels from various suburban areas of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane. The site was declared as Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, and is spread over 6,521 hectares of land. Fringed by mangroves on both banks, it comprises around 20 per cent of the total Indian mangrove species. The mangrove forest acts as a natural shelter belt, and protects the land from cyclones, tidal surges, seawater seepage, and intrusions. It also serves as a nursery for several fishes and sustains the local fishery. Thane creek is an important part of the wetland complex of the central asian flyway of the birds and has been categorised as an IBA. The creek is home for 202 indigenous bird species besides 18 species of fishes, crustaceans and molluscs, 59 species of butterflies, 67 species of insects, 35 species of phytoplankton, 24 species of zooplankton, and 23 species of benthos.
Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve falls within River Jhelum basin in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is spread over a land area of 801 hectares and plays a significant role as a flood absorption basin, biodiversity conservation site, eco-tourism site and livelihood security for the local population. This site is an abode to many resident and migratory bird species and is also an IBA. The water in the wetland has become polluted with fine mineral particles, and in many places, changed its profile into a landmass because of high rate of siltation. This has resulted in further loss of habitat conditions to offer a suitable site for visiting migratory birds. Even then, Hygam Wetland provides an abundant ecosystem service including fish and fibre, water supply, water purification, climate regulation, flood regulation, and recreational opportunities. Through its ecosystem services, this wetland provides partial or entire livelihood for people living in and around it.
Shallabugh Wetland Conservation Reserve Shallabugh Wetland Conservation Reserve is in Ganderbal district, Srinagar, in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and is spread over an area of 1,675 hectares of land. Large areas of the wetland dry up between September and March. This wetland has great amount of reedbeds of the common water plants, Phargmites communis and Typha angustata. It also has in abundance Nymphaea candida and Nymphaea stellata, which are plants of lotus family on open water. Home to more than 4,00,000 resident and migratory birds of at least 21 species, the site plays a major role in the natural prevention and control of flooding, and is a major floodplain. The site also helps in seasonal water retention for wetlands and conservation. Important for the recharge of aquifers, the water-bearing rock that readily transmits water to wells and springs, this site provides a lot of ecosystem services including fish and fibre, water supply, water purification, climate regulation, flood regulation, and recreational opportunities. For many species of waterbirds, the site also serves as an important breeding ground.
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