By our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, Aug 16 (IVC) The Environment Miniistry on Aug 14 said that three more wetlands in India had been designated Ramsar Sites .
This brings the total number of Ramsar sites in the India to 85. The new sites are the Nanjarayan and Kazhuveli bird sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu and the Tawa reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.
“As the nation gears up to celebrate its Independence Day, thrilled to share that we have added three Ramsar sites to our network.This takes our total tally to 85 Ramsar sites, covering an area of 13,58,068 hectares in India”, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav posted on the social media platform X.
India is one of the “contracting parties “ to the Ramsar Convention signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. It became a signatory in 1982. From 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 sites were added to the list of Ramsar sites in the country. From 2014 to 2024, the country has added 59 wetlands to the list.
At present Tamil Nadu has highest number of Ramsar sites with 18 , followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10.
Indias’s Ramsar wetlands make up around 10 per cent of the total wetlands in the country across 18 States. No other South Asian country has as many sites though this has much to do with India’s geographical breadth and tropical diversity .
The United Kingdom (175) and Mexico (142) – smaller countries than India-have the most Ramsar sites, where as Bolivia possess the largest area, with 1,48,000 sq.km under the convention’s protection. Being the designated a Ramsar site does not necessarily invite extra international funds, but the Centre and States must ensure these tracts of land are conserved from man-made encroachment. Acquiring this label also helps with a locale’s tourism potential and its international visibility.
