India Adds Four New Wetlands to Ramsar List, Udhwa Lake Included
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in News? | Ramsar Convention recognized 4 new wetlands in India, increasing the total to 89. |
| New Additions | Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary (TN), Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (TN), Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim), Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand). |
| State-Wise Distribution | Tamil Nadu has the highest Ramsar sites (20). Sikkim and Jharkhand joined the list for the first time. |
| India's Global Ranking | India has the highest Ramsar sites in Asia and ranks third globally after the UK and Mexico. |
| Wetland Significance | Wetlands provide ecosystem services like flood control, water supply, biodiversity support, and resources. |
| Udhwa Lake Details | - Location: Sahebganj district, Jharkhand. - Establishment: 1991, Jharkhand's sole bird sanctuary. - Rivers: Patauran and Berhale water bodies. |
| Ramsar Convention | International treaty (1971) for wetland conservation. India adopted it on 1st February 1982. |
| Montreux Record | Register of wetland sites where ecological changes have occurred due to human interference. |