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 This article talks about a List Of Ramsar Sites In India and Indian Wetlands With Map for UPSC

The topic, ‘Ramsar Sites of India’ is important for the upcoming UPSC IAS Exam. Hence, candidates should read about Ramsar Sites in India and the Ramsar Convention for UPSC preparation. Read on to get the relevant facts about Ramsar Sites and the list of Ramsar Sites.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The term was coined when the International Treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable use of Wetlands was signed at a city of Iran called Ramsar in 1971.

It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.

Ramsar Convention is a convention on wetlands that was signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The negotiations for the convention started in the 1960s by the different countries and NGOs for the protection of wetland habitats of migratory waterbirds. Finally, it came into force in 1975.

February 2 is celebrated as International Wetlands Day as the Ramsar Convention was signed on February 2, 1971.

The Ramsar Convention works with the collaboration of the following organizations:

1. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
2. Birdlife International.
3. International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
4. Wetlands International.
5. Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
6. WWF International

Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:

1. work towards the wise use of all their wetlands;
2. designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management;
3. cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems, and shared species.

Wetland

A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other landforms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil.

The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatland, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.

Ramsar Sites

Any Wetland site which has been listed under the Ramsar Convention that aims to conserve it and promote sustainable use of its natural resources is called a Ramsar Site.

At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party undertakes to designate at least one wetland site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.

The inclusion of a “Ramsar Site” in the List embodies the government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.

The Ramsar sites are maintained in Montreux Record to track any major ecological changes that might affect any of the wetland sites positively or in a reverse way.

• The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Ramsar 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.
• At present, two wetlands of India are in Montreux Record:
  • Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and
  • Loktak Lake (Manipur).
• Note: Chilka Lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but was later removed from it.

There are currently over 2,400 Ramsar Sites on the territories of 171 Ramsar Contracting Parties across the world. They cover over 2.5 million square kilometers, an area larger than Mexico.

• India is a party to the Ramsar Convention. India signed under it on 1st February 1982.
• Chilika Lake is the largest Ramsar Site of India
• Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India
• World’s First Ramsar site was identified in 1974, which was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia.

Ramsar Sites in India

The Ramsar convention entered into force in India on 1 February 1982.

As of December 2020, there are 42 Ramsar Sites in India.

List of Ramsar sites in India

S.No.	Ramsar Sites in India	State – Location
1	Ashtamudi Wetland	Kerala
2	Beas Conservation Reserve	Punjab
3	Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Odisha
4	Bhoj Wetlands	Madhya Pradesh
5	Chandra Taal	Himachal Pradesh
6	Chilika Lake	Odisha
7	Deepor Beel	Assam
8	East Kolkata Wetlands	West Bengal
9	Harike Wetlands	Punjab
10	Hokera Wetland	Jammu & Kashmir
11	Kanjli Wetland	Punjab
12	Keoladeo National Park	Rajasthan
13	Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve	Punjab
14	Kolleru lake	Andhra Pradesh
15	Loktak lake	Manipur
16	Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary	Gujarat
17	Nandur Madhameshwar	Maharashtra
18	Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary	Punjab
19	Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
20	Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
21	Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary	Tamil Nadu
22	Pong Dam lake	Himachal Pradesh
23	Renuka lake	Himachal Pradesh
24	Ropar Wetland	Punjab
25	Rudrasagar Lake	Tripura
26	Saman Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
27	Samaspur Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
28	Sambhar lake	Rajasthan
29	Sandi Bird Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
30	Sarsai Nawar Jheel	Uttar Pradesh
31	Sasthamkotta lake	Kerala
32	Surinsar- Mansar lakes	Jammu & Kashmir
33	Tsomoriri	Jammu & Kashmir
34	Upper Ganga river	Uttar Pradesh
35	Vembanad Kol Wetland	Kerala
36	Wular lake	Jammu & Kashmir
37	Sunderban Wetland	West Bengal
38	Asan Barrage (Asan Conservation Reserve)	Uttarakhand
39	Kanwar Taal or Kabartaal Lake (Kabartal Wetland)	Bihar, Begusarai
40	Sur Sarovar Lake	Uttar Pradesh, Agra district
41	Lonar Lake	Maharashtra, Buldhana district
42	Tso Kar Wetland Complex	Ladakh, Leh district

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Ramsar sites in India with International importance

1. Ashtamudi Wetland

• It is a natural backwater in the Kollam district.
• River Kallada and Pallichal drain into it.
• It forms an estuary with Sea at Neendakara (a famous fishing harbor in Kerala).
• National Waterway 3 passes through it.

2. Beas Conservation Reserve

• It is a 185-kilometer stretch of the Beas River.
• The stretch is dotted with islands, sand bars, and braided channels.
• The Reserve hosts the only known population in India of the endangered Indus river dolphin.
• In 2017, a program was initiated to re-introduce the critically endangered gharial.

3. Bhitarkanika Mangroves

• It is part of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The core area of the sanctuary was declared Bhitarkanika National Park.
• Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary is adjacent to the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It is famous for its saltwater crocodiles and Olive ridley sea turtle.
• The core area of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary was declared Bhitarkanika National Park.
• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary includes Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Bhitarkanika Mangroves, a part of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary was designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2002.
• It is famous for its saltwater crocodiles and Olive ridley sea turtle.

4. Bhoj Wetland

• The Wetland consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal.
• The two lakes are the Bhojtal and the Lower Lake.
• It is a humanmade reservoir.
• The largest bird of India, the sarus crane is found here.

5. Chandra Taal

• It is a high altitude lake.
• It supports IUCN Red-listed Snow Leopard.

6. Chilika Lake

• It is a brackish water lagoon at the mouth of the Daya River.
• It is the largest coastal lagoon in India.
• Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, and other remote parts of Central Asia, Ladakh, and the Himalayas come here.
• In 1981, Chilika Lake has designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Nalbana Bird Sanctuary is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of Chilika Lake.
• The Irrawaddy dolphin (critically endangered) is the flagship species of Chilika lake.
• Chilka is home to the only known population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India.

7. Deepor Beel

• A permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra river.
• It is a few kilometers to the left of Guwahati whereas Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is around 35 km to the right.

8. East Kolkata Wetlands

• It is multiple use wetland that serves the city of Kolkata.

9. Harike Wetland

• It is a shallow water reservoir at the confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers.

10. Hokera Wetland

• It is only 10 km from Srinagar.
• It is a natural perennial wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin.

11. Kanjli Wetland

• The stream is considered to be the most significant in the state from the religious point of view, as it is associated with the first guru of the Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak.

12. Keoladeo National Park

• A complex of ten artificial, seasonal lagoons, varying in size.
• Vegetation is a mosaic of scrub and open grassland that provides habitat for breeding, wintering, and staging migratory birds.
• The invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has changed the ecological character of large areas of the site, reducing its suitability for certain waterbird species, notably the Siberian crane.

13. Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve

• The Site is an example of wise use of a community-managed wetland, which provides food for people and supports local biodiversity.

14. Kolleru Lake

• A natural eutrophic lake situated between the river basins of the Godavari and the Krishna.
• It was previously a lagoon, but now it is several kilometres inland due to the coastline of emergence and delta formation.

15. Loktak Lake

• Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern region of the country.
• Keibul Lamjao the only floating national park in the world floats over it.

16. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

• A natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) that is the largest natural wetland in the Thar Desert.
• The wetland is a lifeline for a satellite population of the endangered Indian Wild Ass.

17. Nandur Madhameshwar

• Construction of the Nandur Madhameshwar Weir at the confluence of the Godavari and Kadwa Rivers helped create a thriving wetland.

18. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary

• Located in the Shiwalik foothills of Punjab.
• It supports abundant flora and fauna including threatened species, such as the endangered Indian pangolin and Egyptian vulture.
• It occupies a human-made reservoir constructed as part of the Bhakra-Nangal Project in 1961.
• The site is of historic importance as the Indian and Chinese Prime Ministers formalized the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” there in 1954.

19. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary

• It was renamed as Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary in 2015.

20. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary

• It is a permanent freshwater environment consisting of two oxbow lakes.
• The Sanctuary is a refuge for some of India’s threatened vulture species: the critically endangered white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture.

21. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary

• One of the last remnants of Dry Evergreen Forests.
• Habitat: Dry Evergreen Forests, Mangrove & Wetlands.

22. Pong Dam Lake

• It is also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar.
• Pong Dam Lake is a water storage reservoir created in 1975 on the Beas River in the low foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic plain.
• The avian habitats formed by the creation of the Pong Dam assumes a great significance – given the site’s location on the trans-Himalayan flyway, more than 220 bird species have been identified, with 54 species of waterfowl.

23. Renuka Lake

• A natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations.

24. Ropar Wetland

• A human-made wetland of lake and river formed by the construction of a barrage for diversion of water from the Sutlej River.

25. Rudrasagar Lake

• It is a reservoir fed by three perennial streams discharging to the River Gomti.
• It is an ideal habitat for IUCN Red-listed Three-striped Roof Turtle.

26. Saman Bird Sanctuary

• It is a seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain.

27. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary

• It is a perennial lowland marsh typical of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
• The Sanctuary harbours threatened species such as the endangered Egyptian vulture.

28. Sambhar Lake

• The Sambhar Salt Lake is India’s largest inland saltwater lake.
• It is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos.

29. Sandi Bird Sanctuary

• The wetland is typical of the Indo-Gangetic plains.

30. Sarsai Nawar Jheel

• It is a permanent marsh.
• It is an example of co-habitation of humans and wildlife.
• The site’s name is derived from the large non-migratory sarus crane.

31. Sasthamkotta Lake

• It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, situated in Kollam district.
• River Kallada had a unique replenishing system through a bar of paddy field.
• The lake is now depleting due to destruction of replenishing mechanism.

32. Sundarban Wetland

• Sundarban Wetland is located within the largest mangrove forest in the world.
• It is the largest Ramsar Site in India.
• The Indian Sundarban, covering the south-westernmost part of the delta, constitutes over 60% of the country’s total mangrove forest area and includes 90% of Indian mangrove species.

33. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes

• Freshwater composite lake in semi-arid Panjab Plains, adjoining the Jhelum Basin.

34. Tsomoriri (Tso Moriri)

• A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level.
• The site is said to represent the only breeding ground outside of China for one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-necked crane, and the only breeding ground for Bar-headed geese in India.
• The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali and Tibetan Wild Ass are endemic to the region.
• With no outflow, evaporation in the arid steppe conditions causes varying levels of salinity.

35. Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)

• The river provides habitat for IUCN Red listed Ganges River Dolphin and Gharial Crocodile.

36. Vembanad-Kol Wetland

• The largest lake of Kerala, spanning across Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.
• It is the second-largest Ramsar Site in India after Sundarbans.
• It is also the longest lake in India.
• It is below sea level and is famous for exotic fish varieties and Paddy fields that are below sea level.

37. Wular Lake

• It is the largest freshwater lake in India.

38. Asan Conservation Reserve

• ACR is a 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River running down to its confluence with the Yamuna River in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It is 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.
• These habitats support 330 species of birds including the critically endangered red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), and Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
• Other non-avian species present include 49 fish species, one of these being the endangered Putitora mahseer (Tor putitora). Fish use the site for feeding, migration, and spawning.

39. Kabartal Wetland

• Also known as Kanwar Jheel, it covers 2,620 hectares of the 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.
• Significant biodiversity is present, with 165 plant species and 394 animal species recorded, including 221 bird species. It is also a valuable site for fish biodiversity with over 50 species documented.
• It is an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, with 58 migratory waterbirds using it to rest and refuel.
• Five critically endangered species inhabit the site, including three vultures – the red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) – and two waterbirds, the sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) and Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
• Major threats to the Site include water management activities such as drainage, water abstraction, damming and canalization.

40. Soor 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.
• Location:
  • This lake is situated alongside the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
  • The Soor Sarovar bird sanctuary covered an area of 7.97 sq km.
• It is today home to more than 165 species of migratory and resident birds.
• It also has a Bear Rescue center for rescued dancing bears.

41. 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 a Lonar crater and is a notified National Geo-heritage Monument. Geo-heritage refers to the geological features which are inherently or culturally significant offering insight to earth’s evolution or history to earth science or that can be utilized for education.
• It is the second Ramsar site in Maharashtra after Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary in the Nashik district.
• The water in the lake is highly saline and alkaline, containing special microorganisms like anaerobes, Cyanobacteria, and phytoplankton.

42. Tso Kar Wetland Complex (Tso Kar Lake)

• Ladakh’s Tso Kar Wetland Complex has been recognized as a wetland of international importance, becoming India’s 42nd Ramsar site. This is the second Ramsar site in the Union Territory of Ladakh. It is a high-altitude wetland complex, found at more than 4,500 meters above sea level in the Changthang region of Ladakh.
• The Tso Kar Basin is a high-altitude wetland complex, which comprises two principal waterbodies– Startsapuk Tso and Tso Kar Lake situated in Ladakh’s Changthang region.
• Startsapuk Tso is a freshwater lake and Tso Kar is a hypersaline lake.
• The TSO Kar name means white lake and it was given because of the white salt efflorescence found on the margins of the wetlands due to the evaporation of highly saline water.
• The TSO Kar basin is categorized as A1 Category Important Bird Area (IBA) as per BirdLife International and is also a key staging site in the Central Asian Flyway.
• The basin is one of the most important breeding areas of the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) in India.
• It is also a major breeding area for the Bar-headed Geese (Anserindicus), Great Crested Grebe (Podicepscristatus), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadornaferruginea), Lesser Sand-Plover (Charadriusmongolus) and Brown-headed Gull (Larusbrunnicephalus), and many other species.

Global Important Bird Area Criteria

Based on the criteria, the Global Important Bird Areas are classified as follows:

• A1 Category: Globally Threatened Species. The sites under this category hold bird population that is categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• A2 Category: Restricted Range species
• A3: Biome Restricted Species
• A4: Congregations

Criteria for Identification of Wetlands under Ramsar Convention

If a wetland –

• contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type.
• supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species; or threatened ecological communities.
• supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.
• supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles or provides refuge during adverse conditions.
• regularly supports 20,000 or more water birds.
• regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of water birds.
• supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies
• is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path.
• is an important source of food and water resource, increased possibilities for recreation and eco-tourism, etc.

Wetlands International

• Wetlands International is a global organization (NGO) that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity.
• Wetlands International’s work ranges from research, advocacy, and engagement with governments, corporate and international policy fora, and conventions.

National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP)

• NWCP was implemented in the year 1985-86.
• Under the programme, 115 wetlands have been identified by the MoEF which require urgent conservation and management interventions.
• Criteria for identification of wetlands of national importance under NWCP are the same as those prescribed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• The Central Government is responsible for the overall coordination of wetland conservation programmes.
• It also provides guidelines, financial & technical assistance to state govt.
• Since the land resources belong to them, the State Governments/UT Administration are responsible for the management of wetlands.

Aim:

• Conservation of wetlands to prevent their further degradation and to ensure their wise use for the benefit of local communities and overall conservation of biodiversity.

Objectives

• to lay down policy guidelines for conservation and management of wetlands.
• to provide financial assistance for undertaking intensive conservation measures.
• to monitor the implementation of the programme.
• to prepare an inventory of Indian wetlands.