11/06/2022
Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental environmental treaty, signed in 1971. This convention was signed in Ramsar, Iran and hence it is known as Ramsar Convention. Ramsar convention provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Ramsar site is a wetland area designated to be of international importance under this convention. Currently 49 sites from India have been included in the Ramsar Convention list. Since India is celebrating its 75th year of Independence, it is being proposed to add 26 more sites to this list this year so that the total Ramsar Sites in the country will be 75. Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh are the latest additions to the Ramsar Sites List in India. Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India. Sundarbans (West Bengal) is the largest and Renuka Wetland (Himachal Pradesh) is the smallest Ramsar Sites of India. Currently Uttar Pradesh has the most number (10) of Ramsar Sites in India.
The 26 wetlands proposed to be designated as Ramsar sites comprise 13 from Tamil Nadu, four from Odisha, three from Madhya Pradesh, two from Jammu & Kashmir and one each from Maharashtra, Mizoram, Karnataka and Goa. Bird sanctuaries in Chitrangudi, Koonthankulam, Vaduvur, Vellode, Kanjirakulam, Vedanthangal and Karikili, the wetland complexes in Suchindram Theroor and Vembannur, Pichavaram Mangrove, Pallikaranai Marsh and the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve in Tamail Nadu; the Satkosia Gorge, Tampara Lake, Hirakud Reservoir and Ansupa lake in Odisha; Sirpur wetland, Sakhya Sagar and Yashwant Sagar in Madhya Pradesh; the wetland conservation reserves in Hygam and Shallbugh in J&K, Thane creek in Maharashtra; Nanda lake in Goa; Pala wetland in Mizoram; and Ranganathituu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka are the sites proposed by India to be designated as Ramsar sites.