What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are areas where the land is covered by water, either permanently or seasonally, and the water table is usually at or near the surface.
Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity. Flood control, wildlife Habitat, water regulation, and carbon sink are the major functions of Wetlands.
Ramsar Convention:
Wetlands are recognized as globally important ecosystems, and efforts are made to conserve and protect them.
The Ramsar Convention (1971)), an international treaty, is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
The following are important eligibility criteria for Ramsar Sites:
- Unique Ecosystem
- Wetlands should support populations of Vulnerable, endangered, or endemic species of plants or animals.
- The site should be at risk or under threat due to changes in land use, pollution, or human activities.
- The wetlands should play a critical role in supporting the livelihoods and cultural practices of local people.
Ramsar Sites of Uttar Pradesh:
As of present ( Feb-2024), Uttar Pradesh has 10 Ramsar Sites and it is the second largest number of Ramsar Sites in India, After Tamil Nadu (16).
The names of the 10 Ramsar Sites of Uttar Pradesh are as follows:
1. Bakhira Sanctuary (Sant Kabir Nagar)
2. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary ( Unnao)
3. Saman Bird Sanctuary ( Mainpuri)
4. Sandi Bird Sanctuary ( Hardoi )
5. Sur Sarovar ( Agra)
6. Haiderpur Wetland. (Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor)
7. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary ( Gonda)
8. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary. ( Raebareli)
9. Sarsai Nawar Jheel. ( Etawah)
10. Upper Ganga River. (Uttarakhand, Meerut, Bulandshahar)
Question.
Name the Newest Ramsar Site of Uttar Pradesh.
Answer.
Bakhira Sanctuary (Sant Kabir Nagar) is the latest Ramsar Site in India, which was declared in December 2021.
Question.
Name the First ( Oldest) Ramsar Site in Uttar Pradesh.
Answer.
Upper Ganga River. (Uttarakhand, Meerut, Bulandshahar) is the first Ramsar of Uttar Pradesh, which was declared in 2005.
Question.
Which state has the maximum Ramsar wetland sites in India?
Answer.
Tamil Nadu has a total of 16 Ramsar Sites in India, which is the maximum in India.
Question.
Which state has the second maximum Ramsar wetland sites in India?
Answer.
Uttar Pradesh has a total of 10 Ramsar Sites in India, which is the second largest in India.
Question.
Which is the first ( Oldest) Ramsar site in India?
Answer.
Chilika Lake ( Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park ( Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar sites in India in 1981.
Question.
Name the biggest Ramsar sites in India.
Answer.
Sundarban Wetland ( 4,230 square kilometers) in West Bengal is the largest Wetland in India.
Question.
Name the smallest Ramsar site in India.
Answer.
Vembannur Wetland Complex ( 0.2 square km, Tamil Nadu) and Renuka Lake ( 0.2 square km, Himachal Pradesh) are the two smallest Ramsar Sites in India.
Question.
How many Ramsar sites are there in India in 2024?
Answer.
There are 80 Ramsar Sites ( Wetlands) in India as of February 2024. The names of five ( 5) newly added Wetlands in India are:
- Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve ( Karnataka)
- Ankasamudra Bird Conservation ( Karnataka)
- Aghanashini Estuary ( Karnataka)
- Longwood Shola Reserve ( Tamil Nadu)
- Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary ( Tamil Nadu)
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