RAMSAR SITES

NEWS: Recently, the Prime Minister welcomed new Ramsar sites at Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand.

Location

• Patna Bird Sanctuary – Etah district, Uttar Pradesh.
• Chhari-Dhand – Kutch district, Gujarat

Key Highlights

• India’s Ramsar network expanded from 26 (2014) to 98 (2026), an increase of over 276%.
• India has the highest number of Ramsar sites among Asian countries

Patna Bird Sanctuary

• A wetland bird sanctuary with a lake ecosystem.
• It is the smallest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.
• Supports migratory and resident birds, including Pied mynas, herons, cormorants, ducks and geese;
• Important aquatic birds include Lesser Whistling Duck, Graylag Goose, Comb Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler and Northern Pintail.

Chhari-Dhand

• Located at the interface of grasslands and salt flats.
• Seasonal desert wetland located between the arid Banni grasslands and marshy salt flats of the Rann of Kutch.
• Endangered species such as Dalmatian Pelican, Oriental Darter, Black-necked Stork and Indian Skimmer.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

• An intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• Adoption – In 1971 (Ramsar, Iran) and enforced in 1975. It is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem.
• Every year, 2nd February is celebrated as World Wetlands Day.