31-08-2021 | 16:57 PM
New Indian Ramsar Sites
Recently, four more wetlands from India get recognition as the Ramsar sites. The four sites that have been included are: Thol from Gujarat, Wadhwana from Gujarat, Sultanpur from Haryana and Bhindawas from Haryana.
These sites are home to endangered Egyptian Vulture, Sociable Lapwing, Saker Falcon, and near threatened Dalmatian Pelican.
With the latest addition, the number of Ramsar sites in India have reached 46. These 46 sites cover a surface area of 1,083,322 hectares.
Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary: It is the largest wetland in Haryana. This human-made freshwater wetland comprises more than 250 bird species. It also supports more than ten globally threatened species such as Steppe Eagle, endangered Egyptian Vulture, Black-bellied Tern and Pallas’s Fish Eagle.
Sultanpur National Park: This Park from Haryana provides support to more than 220 species of resident, winter migratory and local migratory waterbirds.
Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary: It lies on the Central Asian Flyway in Gujarat. It supports more than 320 bird species and more than 30 threatened waterbird species like critically endangered white-rumped vulture, Sociable Lapwing, Common Pochard etc.
Wadhwana Wetland: It is an internationally important wetland situated in Gujarat. It is famous for its birdlife because it provides wintering ground to migratory waterbirds, migrating on Central Asian Flyway. Some of the species include endangered Pallas’s fish-Eagle, vulnerable Common Pochard, and near-threatened Dalmatian Pelican.
About Ramsar Convention
• The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (better known as the Ramsar Convention) is an international agreement promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It is the only global treaty to focus on a single ecosystem.
• The convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
• Traditionally viewed as a wasteland or breeding ground of disease, wetlands actually provide fresh water and food and serve as nature’s shock absorber.
