Context:
India has designated four new Ramsar sites, bringing the total to 89. Tamil Nadu remains the leader with 20 wetlands, while Sikkim and Jharkhand have added their first Ramsar sites, representing a significant advancement in wetland conservation efforts.
- This made Tamil Nadu’s total to 20 Ramsar sites, the highest in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10 sites.
About new Ramsar Sites
| Name | State | About |
| Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | It was established on December 15, 2010, in Ramanathapuram District to protect bird species and wetland habitats, this site covers 29.29 hectares.It is a habitat for more than 42 bird species known as varied avian fauna (Migratory Birds). It has rare, endangered and threatened species. Examples of rare species are Great Cormorant, Purple Heron, Comb Duck etc. |
| Therthangal Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | It is 29.30 hectares (about 70 acres) is with a large number of babul trees (thorn mimosa).It is ideal habitat for nestling and breeding of birds including migratory, “prosophis juliflora”, tamarind, neem, banyan, every green scrub, and thorn forests.It is the 14th bird sanctuary of the State and the fourth in Ramanathapuram district. |
| Udhwa Lake | Jharkhand | It spreads in 5.65 square km is the only bird sanctuary of Jharkhand state.It is avian habitat consisting of two backwater lakes on the Ganges River—Patauda and Berhale.Each winter, migratory birds from regions like Siberia and Europe, including pratincoles, egrets, wagtails, plovers, lapwings, storks, ibises, and herons, gather to the area. |
| Khecheopalri Wetland | Sikkim | It is originally called Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning “the heaven of Padmasambhava”), is a sacred site revered by both Buddhists and Hindus.The lake is a vital part of the revered “Demazong” valley, meaning the “valley of rice,” known for its cultural and spiritual significance.The lake watershed has mixed broad leaved forests and agricultural land with a total area of 12 sq. km. |
About Ramsar Sites
- It is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, also known as “The Convention on Wetlands”.
- An international environmental treaty, the Ramsar Convention, was signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of UNESCO.
- A wetland should meet at least one of the Nine criteria that is considered internationally important.