Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitats
- Aim– Conservation and Sustainable utilisation of Wetlands
- Ramsar – Town in Iran
- Signed in 1971
- Came into effect in 1975
- February 2 – World Wetland Day
- Maximum number of Ramsar sites – UK
- Largest area under Ramsar Sites – Bolivia
- Ramsar secretariat – IUCN- The World Conservation Union in Gland, Switzerland
- Its an intergovernmental treaty and is not a part of UN.
- Concept of “ Wise use of Wetlands” is related to Ramsar Convention.
- Its not legally binding.
- No of sites in India – 49
The Montreux Record
The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
2 Indian sites are in Montreux Record-
1) Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan
2) Loktak Lake, Manipur
Ramsar Sites In India – 27 Sites in India
1. Ashtamudi wetland – Kerala
- Extensive estuarine system
- 2nd largest in Kerala
- Inspired many poems of famous poet Thirunalloor Karunakaran
2. Bhitarkanika mangroves- Odisha
- Mangrove forests
- Gahirmatha beach- largest nesting site of Olive Ridley turtle
- Highest density of saltwater crocodiles in India
3. Bhoj wetland – Madhya Pradesh
- 2 contiguous man-made reservoirs
- Upper Lake – 11th century – Raja Bhoj of Malwa – across Kolans river
- Lower Lake – 13th century – Nawab Chhote Khaan
- Bhopal
4. Chandertal Wetland , Himachal Pradesh
- High altitude lake on the upper Chandra valley flowing to the Chandra river near Kunzam Pass.
- Supports Snow Leopard, Golden Eagle,Red fox, Himalayan Ibex, and Blue sheep
5. Chilika Lake - Odisha
- Brackish water lagoon at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal
- It is the largest coastal lagoon in India
- 2nd largest coastal lagoon in the world
- It has been listed in UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.
- Largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent.
6. Deepor Beel – Assam
- Perennial freshwater lake
- Only major storm water storage basin for Guwahati
- Birdlife International has declared it as an Important Bird Area (IBA)
7. East Kolkata Wetlands
- Both natural and man made reservoirs
- Multi-use wetland
- Supports vegetable production and fisheries sector
8. Harike Lake – Punjab
- At the confluence of Beas and Sutlej Rivers
- Indus Dolhin– state aquatic animal of Punjab was recently sighted in Beas river.
9. Hokera wetland – Jammu and Kashmir
- Near Srinagar,in the backdrop of Pir Panchal
- Only site which has reedbeds of Kashmir
- Man made wetland
10. Keoladeo National Park – Rajasthan
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Ramsar site
- Listed on Montreux record
- Artificial wetlands in Bharatpur,Rajasthan
- Rare Siberian Cranes visit this site in large numbers though the population is dwindling at unprecedented rate
11. Kanjli wetland – Punjab
- Man made lake
- Built on Kali Bein permanent water stream
- Built by Maharaja of Kapurthala Raja Randhir Singh
12. Kolleru Lake – Andhra Pradesh
- 2nd largest freshwater lake of India
- Contains large number of fertile islets called Lanka’s.
- Habitat of vulnerable Grey Pelican migratory birds
13. Loktak Lake – Manipur
- Shrinking freshwater lake
- Thick floating mats of weeds covered with soil – Phumdis are unique feature
- Listed on Montreux record
- Habitat of Sangai– endemic and endangered species of brown antlered deer -state animal of Manipur.
14. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary - Gujarat
- Ramsar site
- Natural freshwater lake
- Largest natural wetland in Thar Desert Biogeographic Province
- Considered relict of sea
- Indian Wild Ass habitat
- Habitat of Bharwad tribes who live on its islands and Padhars who lives on its banks
15. Point Calimere - Tamil Nadu
- Coastal area comprising shallow waters,sandbars intertidal flats and forests
- Home to bird species such as vulnerable Spoonbill Sandpiper, Greay Pelican and Greater and Lesser Flamingos
16. Pong Dam Lake – Himachal Pradesh
- Water reservoir on river Beas
- Artificial lake
17. Renuka Wetland – Himachal Pradesh
- Natural wetland
- Known for freshwater springs and inland subterranean Karst formations
- Named after mother of Hindu sage Parshuram, high religious significance
18. Ropar Lake – Punjab
- Artificial lake
- On Sutlej river
- Smooth Indian Otter and endangered Indian Pangolin – found here
19. Rudrasagar Lake – Tripura
- Lowland sedimentation reservoir of Tripura
- On River Gomti
- Habitat of IUCN Red Listed Three-striped Roof Turtle Kachuga Dhongka
- Vijaya Dashmi is celebrated here
20. Sambhar Lake – Rajasthan
- Large saline lake
- Habitat of wintering waterbirds such as Falmingos
- Supports salt making and livestock grazing
21. Sasthamkotta lake – Kerala
- Largest freshwater lake of Kerala
- Supports Kollam district
- Water contains no common salts , no minerals and supports no water plants
- Larva called “cavaborus” abounds and eliminates bacteria leading to highly pure water
- Sastha Temple– ancient pilgrimage centre
22. Sundarban wetland – West Bengal
- India has designated Sundarban Reserve Forests as the wetlands of International Importance, making it the 27th site in India – latest.
- It is the largest tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
- Sundarbans has now become the largest Ramsar Site in India.
- It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
- Large number of Royal Bengal Tigers.
- The critically endangered northern river terrapin, the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, and the endangered fishing cat – all are found in Sunderbans.
23. Surinsar-Mansar Lake- Jammu and Kashmir
- Freshwater lake
- Sutlej basin
- Many temples around it, origin attributed to Mahabharata period
24. Tsomoriri – Jammu and Kashmir
- Freshwater to brackish lake
- Borax laden wetlands
- Only breeding ground outside China for the Black Necked crane– endangered species
- Only breeding ground for Bar-Headed Geese in India
- Habitat for- The great Tibetan Sheep or Argali & Tibetal Wild Ass which are endemic to Tibetan plateau
- Barley fields at Korzok – highest cultivated land in the world
- 400 year old Korzok monastery is situated here
- Lake is considered holy by Buddhist communities and water is not used
- It is designated as WWF Sacred Gift for the Living Planet.
25. Upper Ganga river ( Brijghat to Narora stretch ) – Uttar Pradesh
- Habitat of IUCN red listed Gangetic Dolphins, gharials, crocodiles, turtles, otters etc.
- High pilgrimage value and large number of pilgrimage sites
26. Vembanad Kol wetland – Kerala
- Largest brackish wetland on Kerala coast
- Large estuarine system
- Third largest waterfowl population in winter months
27. Wular Lake – Jammu and Kashmir
- Largest freshwater lake in India
- Large scale cultivation of Water-chestnut – consists of emergent and floating vegetation.
Important points-
– Largest wetland of India- Vembanad – Kol wetland
– Smallest wetland – Renuka wetland
28 . Beas Conservation Reserve
- Beas river in Punjab
- Isalnds,sandbars and braided channels form the features of wetland.
- Endangered Indus Dolphins are found only here in India.
- Site for reintroduction of critically endangered gharial
- Endangered Masheer,Hog deer and vulnerable Smooth coated otter– species found.
29. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary
- In eco-sensitive region of Shiwalik foothills
- Panchsheel was formulated here between India China
- Artificial reservoir due to Bhakra Nangal project over river Sutlej part of wetand
- Endangered Indian Pangolin , Egyptian vulture , vulnerable leopard– species found.
30. Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve (Punjab)
- Human managed fishponds and cultivated agricultural lands and natural marshes form this wetland
- Crops- Lotus and chestnut
- Common pochard and Spotted pond turtle– endangered species
- Examples of a Community managed wetland.
31. Sarsai Nawar Jheel (Etawah, UP)
- Lies in Indo-Gangetic floodplain,fed by southwest monsoon.
- Important Bird Area– recognised by Birdlife International
- Agricultural lands + waterbird habitats
- Vulnerable Sarus Crane,critically endangered White rumped vulture,endangered Woolly- necked Stork– endangered species.
- Name of wetland comes from Sarus crane-largest flock in region is found here.
32. Nandur Madhameshwar
- 1st Ramsar site of Maharashtra
- Lakes,marshes,riparian forests- on Deccan plateau
- Nandur Madhameshwar Weir at the confluence of the Godavari and Kadwa Rivers led to creation of wetland surrounded by semir arid regions.
- Critically endangered Deolali minnow (a fish), Indian vulture and whiterumped vulture– endangered species.
- Leopard and Indian sandalwood -found here.
- Water hyacinth– threat by invasive species.
33. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
- Permanent freshwater environment consisting of 2 oxbow lakes
- Rain-fed lakes in a deep natural depression in the Gangetic plains of the terai region of UP.
- Critically endangered white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture and the endangered Egyptian vulture– threatened species.
- Common water hyacinth– invasive species is a threat.
34. Saman Bird Sanctuary,Mainpuri,UP
- Seasonal Oxbow lake in Ganga flooplain
- Wintering site for many migrant birds including the Greylag goose.
- Vulnerable species sarus crane and greater spotted eagle found here.
35. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary,Unnao,UP
- Sarda canal+ monsoon rains– flood this shallow marshland.
- Many migratory bird species visit the site.
- Endangered Egyptian vulture and Pallas’s fish eagle as well as the vulnerable lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) and woolly-necked stork found here.
- Golden jackal and jungle cat also present/
- Water hyacinth– invasive species poses threat.
36. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary,Raebareli,UP
- Perennial lowland marsh in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
- 6 connected lakes fed by monsoon rains
- Endangered Common pochardEgyptian vulture , Pallas’s fish eagle, – threatened species.
- ‘Sarpat’- tall grass found here.
37. Sandi Bird Sanctuary- Hardoi,UP
- Important Bird Area- Birdlife International
- Freshwater marsh,River Garra passes near the sanctuary
- Dahar Jheel– another name of sanctuary
- Common teal, red-crested pochard , ferruginous duck , vulnerable sarus crane– species found here.
38. Kabartal Wetland
- Also known as Kanwar Jheel, in Indo-Gangetic plains in the Begusarai district of Bihar.
- It acts as a vital flood buffer for the region besides providing livelihood opportunities to local communities.
- It is an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, with 58 migratory waterbirds using it to rest and refuel.
39. Asan Conservation Reserve
- ACR is a 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River running down to its confluence with the Yamuna River in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand.
- Uttarakhand’s first Ramsar Site.
- The damming of the River by the Asan Barrage in 1967 resulted in siltation above the dam wall, which helped to create some of the Site’s bird-friendly habitats.
40. Lonar Lake
- The Lonar lake, situated in the Deccan Plateau’s volcanic basalt rock, was created by the impact of a meteor 35,000 to 50,000 years ago.
- The lake is part of Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary which falls under the unified control of the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR).
- It is also known as Lonar crater and is a notified National Geo-heritage Monument.
- The water in the lake is highly saline and alkaline, containing special microorganisms like anaerobes, Cyanobacteria and phytoplankton.
41. Sur Sarovar Lake
- It is also known as Keetham lake situated within the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, which was declared as a bird sanctuary in the year 1991.
- This lake is situated alongside river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
- It is today home to more than 165 species of migratory and resident birds.
- It also has a Bear Rescue centre for rescued dancing bears.
42. Tso Kar Wetland Complex
- The Tso Kar Basin is a high-altitude wetland complex, consisting of two principal waterbodies:
- Startsapuk Tso, a freshwater lake of about 438 hectares to the south,
- Tso Kar itself, a hypersaline lake of 1800 hectares to the north, situated in the Changthang region of Ladakh.
- It is called Tso Kar, meaning white lake, because of the white salt efflorescence found on the margins due to the evaporation of highly saline water.
- It is an A1 Category Important Bird Area (IBA) as per Bird Life International and a key staging site in the Central Asian Flyway.
43. Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
- the largest wetland in Haryana is a human-made freshwater wetland.
44. Sultanpur National Park
- from Haryana supports more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life cycles.
45. Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
- in Gujarat lies on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species can be found here.
46. Wadhwana Wetland
- from Gujarat is internationally important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to migratory waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway.
47. Haiderpur Wetland
- on the Muzaffarnagar-Bijnor border between the Ganges and the Solani River.
- It is a part of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Haiderpur Wetland is a man-made lake, which was formed in 1984. The biodiversity here attracts birds. Exotic birds reach here by crossing the hills of Mongolia.
48. Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary
- Located in- Gujarat
- This freshwater wetland near the coast of the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat State was formed following the creation of a bund (dike) in 1920 to protect farmland from saltwater ingress.
- Fauna and Flora: critically endangered Indian bdellium-tree, Dalmatian pelican , greylag goose
49. Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
- Located in- Rohtak, Haryana
- Human-made freshwater wetland and is the largest wetland in Haryana State.
- The wetland was declared as a protected area in 1986 and was designated as an Eco-sensitive zone by the MoEFCC in 2011.
- Fauna and Flora: Threatened species like Egyptian vulture, steppe eagle, Pallas’s fish eagle, blackbellied tern; Mammals like nilgai, common mongoose and black-naped hare
