SYLLABUS
GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Context: India has added Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, to the list of internationally important wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, taking the total number of Ramsar sites in the country to 99.
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- With this addition, Uttar Pradesh’s tally of Ramsar sites has increased to 12, making it one of the leading states in wetland conservation.
- The designation acknowledges the ecological importance of Shekha Jheel as a habitat for migratory and resident bird species, especially along the Central Asian Flyway.
About Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary
- Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary is a freshwater wetland located in Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh, about 17 km from Aligarh on Gangiri Road, covering an area of approximately 25 hectares.
- The wetland was formed in 1852 due to seepage from the Upper Ganga Canal, making it a man-made yet ecologically significant habitat.
- It is an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, attracting nearly 20,000 migratory birds annually.
- The sanctuary hosts around 249 bird species, of which over 60 are wetland-dependent, highlighting its biodiversity significance.
- Key avifauna include bar-headed goose, painted stork, various ducks, and the sarus crane (state bird of Uttar Pradesh), along with other resident and migratory species.
- The area also supports terrestrial fauna such as nilgai (blue bull), blackbuck, mongoose, and small mammals, indicating a diverse ecosystem.
About the Ramsar Convention
- The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty established in 1971 in Ramsar (Iran).
- Its aim is the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands to preserve biodiversity and maintain ecological balance.
- The convention promotes the concept of “wise use” of wetlands, balancing conservation with sustainable development.
- According to the Convention, Wetlands are defined as areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.
- World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on 2nd February since 1997.
Ramsar Sites in India
- India acceded to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on February 1, 1982.
- India has the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia (99, including the recent one) and the third highest in the world after the United Kingdom (176) and Mexico (144).
- Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar Sites in India, with 20 designated wetlands, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 12.
- The Sundarban Wetland in West Bengal, covering 4,230 square kilometres, is India’s largest Ramsar site, while Renuka Lake in Himachal Pradesh, with an area of 0.2 square kilometres, is the smallest.
- These wetlands are protected under various national laws, including the Forest (Conservation) Act (1980), the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972), and Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.