List Of Ramsar Sites In India

In 2001, the Government of India constituted a National Wetlands Committee under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The mandate of the committee was to identify wetlands of national importance in India and recommend them for inscription on the Ramsar List. On 15th February 2002, Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam, then President of India inaugurated the website of Wetlands International – South Asia (WI-SA) Regional Office in New Delhi. This was perhaps one of the earliest initiatives taken by any country in the world toward listing its wetland sites on an international Ramsar database.

What are Ramsar Sites?

Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance. They support a wide range of ecosystem services and provide habitats for a large number of species. There are currently more than 49 Ramsar Sites in India.

What is the Ramsar Convention?

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

It was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.

As of June 2018, there are 171 Contracting Parties to the Convention, wetlands totalling 21,103,170 hectares have been designated as Wetlands of International Importance

( Ramsar Sites), and the Convention’s work is coordinated by the Ramsar Secretariat, based in Gland, Switzerland.

The name “Ramsar” comes from the city of Ramsar in northwestern Iran, where the treaty was signed in 1971.

What is the importance of Ramsar Sites?

Ramsar Sites are important because: 

– They play a vital role in the ecological and hydrological processes.

– They provide a natural habitat for the survival of aquatic and terrestrial species.

– They help in maintaining the water quality of the surrounding areas.

– They act as natural barriers against floods and droughts.

– They help in recharging groundwater resources.

List of Ramsar Sites In India:

Here is the list of Ramsar sites in India:

-Chilika Lake, Odisha

This lake is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and supports more than 160 species of birds. It is also home to the only known population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India.

-Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh

This lake is the largest freshwater lake in India and supports a large number of migratory birds.

-Wular Lake, Jammu & Kashmir

This lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia and supports more than 20 species of fish.

-Deepor beel, Assam

This is the only Ramsar site in Assam and supports a large number of endangered species of animals.

-Nalsarovar Lake, Gujarat

This is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Gujarat and supports more than 100 species of birds.

-Pulicat Lake, Tamil Nadu

This is the second-largest brackish water lagoon in India and supports a large number of migratory birds.

-Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan

This is the largest saltwater lake in India and supports more than 20 species of fish.

-Tsomoriri Lake, Ladakh

This is one of the highest altitude lakes in India and supports a large number of migratory birds.

-Upper Ganga River, Uttarakhand

This is the largest river in Uttarakhand and supports a large number of fish species.

-Vembanad Lake, Kerala

This is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala and supports more than 20 species of fish.

Chandra Taal: 

This is the one of highest altitude lakes in Himachal Pradesh and supports a large number of migratory birds.

-Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand

This is the one of largest bird conservation reserves in India and supports more than 200 species of birds.

-Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Odisha

It supports a large number of endangered species of animals like saltwater crocodiles, Sea Turtles, etc.

-East Kolkata Wetlands, West Bengal

This is one of the largest wetlands in India and supports more than 200 species of birds.

-Hemis High Altitude National Park, Jammu & Kashmir 

This is the largest national park in India and supports a large number of endangered species of animals.

-Indravati National Park, Chhattisgarh

This is the largest national park in Chhattisgarh and supports a large number of endangered species of animals.

-Kabini Reservoir, Karnataka

This is the largest reservoir in Karnataka and supports a large number of fish species.

-Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim

This is the largest national park in Sikkim and supports a large number of endangered species of animals.

-Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh

This is the largest national park in Arunachal Pradesh and supports a large number of endangered species of animals.

-Sasan Gir National Park, Gujarat

This is one of the largest national parks in Gujarat and supports a large number of endangered species of animals.

-Simlipal National Park, Odisha

This is the largest national park in Odisha and supports a large number of endangered species of animals. 

Renuka Wetland: The Smallest Ramsar Site in India

Renuka Wetland is the smallest Ramsar site in India and is located in Renuka, Himachal Pradesh. The area covered by this wetland is only 0.2 km². This wetland was declared a Ramsar site on October 15, 2012.

Conclusion:

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. India has been a signatory to this convention since 1982. As of February 2021, there are 49 wetland sites in India designated as Ramsar sites. The first Ramsar site in India is Chilika Lake and the smallest Ramsar site in India is Renuka Wetland. The wise use of these wetlands will help ensure the ecological character of these sites, which are home to a number of plant and animal species.