New Ramsar site

New Ramsar sites added:

• Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu):
  • Location: Northeastern Uthukuli Taluk, Tiruppur District.
  • Ecological Significance: Originally a reservoir for irrigation, now a vital ecosystem supporting various bird species, including migratory birds from the Central Asian Flyway.
  • Avifauna: Home to species like the Eurasian coot, spot-billed duck, and various herons.
• Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu):
  • Location: Villupuram District, North of Pondicherry on the Coromandel Coast.
  • Ecology: A brackish water wetland with salt marshes, mudflats, and shallow waters.
  • Flora and Fauna: Hosts endangered species like the black-headed ibis and greater flamingo. Mangrove patches and reed beds dominate the area.
  • Significance: Important stopover for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, contributing to flood control and groundwater recharge.
• Tawa Reservoir (Madhya Pradesh):
  • Location: Constructed at the confluence of the Tawa and Denwa rivers, inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve.
  • Ecological role: Provides irrigation, and drinking water, and supports local fisheries. It’s a major wintering ground for migratory birds.
  • Key features: Largest protected area in Madhya Pradesh, forming the western boundary of Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Tawa River: The longest tributary of the Narmada River(172km), originating in the Mahadeo hills, and flowing through the Betul district.
• Wetlands: Wetlands include areas like marshes, swamps, peatlands, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies. 
  • They can be natural or artificial, and the water may be fresh, brackish, or salt, and can vary in its state (static or flowing). 
  • Wetlands also cover shallow marine waters with a depth not exceeding six meters at low tide.
• Ramsar Convention:
  • Background: An intergovernmental treaty signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, aimed at the conservation of wetlands worldwide.
  • Criteria for selection: Sites are designated based on their importance to the life cycles of species, support for biodiversity, and ability to sustain waterbirds and fish.

India’s involvement: India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982, initially designating Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) as Ramsar sites.

Q1. When is the World Wetlands Day observed? 

World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2 to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands. This date marks the adoption of the Ramsar Convention in 1971. India has been a party to the Convention since 1982, designating 85 Ramsar sites.

Source: India adds 3 new Ramsar sites: What are wetlands, why do they matter for the environment? | Explained News - The Indian Express