India increases its tally of Ramsar sites to 80 by adding Five more wetlands to the list

World Wetlands Day 2024

• Theme: Wetlands and Human Wellbeing, highlighting the essential role of wetlands in flood protection, clean water, biodiversity, and recreational opportunities.
• India, a Party to the Ramsar Convention since 1982, has seen a significant increase in Ramsar sites, reaching 80 from 26 in the last ten years.

New Ramsar Sites

1. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (Karnataka).

• It is a man-made village irrigation tank rich in biodiversity built centuries back.
• It supports more than 1% of the biogeographic population of Painted Stork and Black-headed Ibis.

2. Aghanashini Estuary (Karnataka)

• It is formed at the confluence of the Aghanashini River with the Arabian Sea.
• The brackish water of the Estuary provides diverse ecosystem services including flood and erosion risk mitigation, biodiversity conservation and livelihood support.
• The wetland helps in traditional fish farming in the estuarine rice fields (locally known as Gazni rice fields), bivalve shell collection and salt production.

3. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve (Karnataka)

• It is a man-made wetland constructed to store rainwater for irrigation purposes.
• Harbours two vulnerable species, namely the Common pochard and River tern and four near-threatened species, namely the Oriental Darter Black-headed Ibis Woolly-necked Stork and Painted Stork
• It is also one of the largest wintering grounds for the Bar-headed goose.

4. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)

• One of the largest inland wetlands of Tamil Nadu, it is a significant source of groundwater recharge for the area.
• Longwood Shola Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu)
• It serves as habitat for the globally endangered Black-chinned Nilgiri Laughing thrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin and vulnerable Nilgiri Wood-pigeon.

Prelims Takeaway

• Ramsar Convention
• New Ramsar Sites
• World Wetlands Day 2024