Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary

Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary Latest News

Recently, the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) was designated as India’s 100th Ramsar Site.

About Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary

• Location: It is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
• The sanctuary is also known as Surha Tal.
• It is a natural perennial oxbow lake which serves as a critical wintering ground for avian species traveling along the Central Asian Flyway. 
• It is a freshwater wetland in the middle stretch of the Ganga River basin.
• It was originally formed from a meander of the Ganga and receives freshwater inflow through three channels.
• It is characterized by floodplains, extensive marshes, seasonally flooded areas and rice paddies.
• It attracts several migratory and resident bird species due to its rich avifaunal biodiversity.
• Fauna: It supports a rich diversity of other species, including 221 plant species, 66 fish species, seven reptile species, and three amphibian species.
  • Notable fish include the vulnerable Wallago attu and Bagarius bagarius.

Key Facts about Ramsar Convention

• It  was adopted in 1971 in the city of Ramsar in Iran and came into force in 1975.
• It was the first intergovernmental agreement focused exclusively on a specific ecosystem, i.e. wetlands.
• The convention rests on the three main pillars:
  • Conservation of wetlands of international importance,
  • Promotion of the wise use of all wetlands within a country’s territory
  • International co-operation on shared wetland systems and migratory species
• The Convention has 172 signatory countries. They are obligated to create wetland reserves and promote the wise use of wetland habitats.
  • India joined it in 1982, initially designating the Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan.

Source: HT

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