The three newly added wetlands include Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Aghanashini River and Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve.
India has designated five new Wetlands of International Importance, taking its total number of Ramsar Sites to 80. (ramsar.org)
On the eve of World Wetlands Day (2 February, 2024), three more wetlands from Karnataka have been added to the list of Ramsar sites. The new additions have taken Karnataka’s tally of Ramsar sites to four.
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention aka The Convention on Wetlands. It is an international environmental treaty signed on 2 February, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of the UNESCO.
The three newly added wetlands include Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve in Gadag, Aghanashini River in central Uttara Kannada and Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (ABCR) in Vijayanagara.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav received the certificates from Musonda Mumba, the Secretary General of Ramsar Convention. Besides the three sites in Karnataka, two from Tamil Nadu are also now in the list. This takes the total number of wetland sites in India to 80.
India adds five more wetlands to the list of Ramsar Sites. This takes our tally to 80.#WorldWetlandsDay #WetlandsAndHumanWellbeing #MissionLiFE #ProPlanetPeople@RamsarConv pic.twitter.com/wZx9AAC2Uc
— MoEF&CC (@moefcc) January 31, 2024
The two Tamil Nadu wetlands in the list are Karaivetti bird sanctuary and Longwood Shola reserve forest. With the new inclusion, Tamil Nadu now harbours the maximum number (16) of Ramsar sites. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh which has 10.
The recognition for the new Karnataka sites came two years after Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary received the Ramsar tag, making it Karnataka’s first such protected wetland.
The largest of the three, Aghanashini River in central Uttara Kannada district originates in the Western Ghats and flows westward towards Arabian Sea. It supports over 66 waterbird species and over 1% of the biogeographic population of 15 waterbird species. Aghanashini estuarine landforms also mediate flood and erosion risks. It also provides livelihoods to 6,000-7,500 families by supporting fishing, agriculture, shrimp aquaculture, fish farming and more.
Aghanashini river estuary in Uttara Kannada dt is recognised as Ramsar site. Aghanashini (Tadri) is one of the few rivers that is not dammed in South India, flows without hindrance. They were planning large port on her estuary, now she is protected 1/2pic.twitter.com/Xvttnm2F4t
— Tamil Nadu Geography (@TNGeography) January 31, 2024
Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (ABCR) is the first bird conservation reserve in the North Karnataka region. It is a 244.04 acre temporary water body which serves as a breeding ground for the water birds.
Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve is a human-made wetland that was primarily constructed to store monsoon rainwater for irrigation. The site now provides stable habitat conditions for more than 165 bird species. It has been declared nationally as a conservation reserve and globally as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. Rare and threatened species such as the northern shoveler, garganey and common pochard are found here. The site is one of the largest wintering grounds for bar-headed goose in Southern India.
#WorldWetlandsDay is just 2 days away!
Where will you be celebrating? Check out the events in your country from the link below.
Congratulations to India, France, Ireland, South Africa and Ecuador for hosting numerous events. pic.twitter.com/mr7x5xuMIQ
— Convention on Wetlands (@RamsarConv) January 31, 2024
The first two Indian Ramsar sites were Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan and Chilika Lake in Odisha, both receiving the status in 1981. According to reports, Dr, Musonda Mumba will be present at Sirpur lake near Indore, a Ramsar site designated in 2022 on Feb 2 to celebrate the World Wetlands Day.
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