Ramsar sites

Ramsar convention:

  • It is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
  • It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the Caspian Sea, where the treaty was signed on 2 February 1971.
  • Known officially as ‘the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat’ (or, more recently, just ‘the Convention on Wetlands’), it came into force in 1975.

 

Montreux Record:

  • Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of 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.
  • The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990).
  • Sites may be added to and removed from the Record only with the approval of the Contracting Parties in which they lie.

 

Wetlands are crucial for a healthy planet because:

The health of people on our planet depends on healthy wetlands.

  • 40% of the world’s species live or breed in wetlands.
  • Wetlands are “nurseries of life” – 40% of animals breed in wetlands.
  • Wetlands are “kidneys of the earth” – they clean the environment of pollutants.
  • Wetlands “matter for climate change” – they store 30% of land-based carbon.
  • Wetlands “minimize disaster risks” – they absorb storm surge.

 

List of Ramsar sites in India

Sl. No. Name of Site State Location
1 Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh
2 Deepor Beel Assam
3 Kabartal Wetland Bihar
4 Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary Gujarat
5 Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Gujarat
6 Wadhvana Wetland Gujarat
7 Sultanpur National Park Haryana
8 Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary Haryana
9 Chandertal Wetland Himachal Pradesh
10 Pong Dam Lake Himachal Pradesh
11 Renuka Wetland Himachal Pradesh
12 Wular Lake Jammu & Kashmir
13 Hokersar Wetland Jammu & Kashmir
14 Surinsar-Mansar Lakes Jammu & Kashmir
15 Tsomoriri Lake Jammu & Kashmir
16 Asthamudi Wetland Kerala
17 Sasthamkotta Lake Kerala
18 Vembanad Kol Wetland Kerala
19 Tso Kar Wetland Complex Ladakh
20 Bhoj Wetlands Madhya Pradesh
21 Lonar Lake Maharashtra
22 Nandur Madhameshwar Maharashtra
23 Loktak Lake Manipur
24 Bhitarkanika Mangroves Orissa
25 Chilka Lake Orissa
26 Beas Conservation Reserve Punjab
27 Harike Lake Punjab
28 Kanjli Lake Punjab
29 Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve Punjab
30 Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary Punjab
31 Ropar Lake Punjab
32 Keoladeo Ghana NP Rajasthan
33 Sambhar Lake Rajasthan
34 Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu
35 Rudrasagar Lake Tripura
36 Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
37 Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
38 Saman Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
39 Samaspur Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
40 Sandi Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh
41 Sarsai Nawar Jheel Uttar Pradesh
42 Sur Sarovar Uttar Pradesh
43 Upper Ganga River
(Brijghat to Narora Stretch)
Uttar Pradesh
44 Asan Conservation Reserve Uttarakhand
45 East Kolkata Wetlands West Bengal
46 Sunderbans Wetland West Bengal

 

ramsar sites