26 Ramsar sites in India: A comprehensive survey

Covering wetlands of India, very very comprehensively

First of all, look at the details below. What comes first to mind is- So much of factual data! Why should I read so many facts?

Let’s explore why?

#1. Increasing thrust on area of ecology due to combined Prelims of Civil Services and Forest Services

#2. Factual question trend has increased in Prelims (seen in 2015)

Proof for utility of this data?

A direct one…

[Prelims 2015] Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?
(a) Bhitarkanika National Park
(b) Keibul Lamjao National Park
(c) Keoladeo Ghana National Park
(d) Sultanpur National Park
Answer: See description for Loktak Lake (13th entry in details below)

Indirect…

[Prelims 2015] Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
(a) Saltwater crocodile
(b) Olive ridley turtle
(c) Gangetic dolphin
(d) Gharial

[Prelims 2015] With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
2. It is found along the entire coast of India.
3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only

Ramsar sites through map:

Please note: The political boundaries sketched for J&K do not represent a correct scheme as per Indian Survey. Take this map as an indicative of the Ramsar sites only.

Sites in detail:

#1. Ashtamudi Wetland

State: Kerala
Designated on: 19 August 2002
Area: 614 sq. Km
(Note: same format followed in all wetlands below, i.e. State, Designated on, Area)

Details:

A natural backwater in Kollam district
River Kallada and Pallichal drain into it
It forms an estuary with Sea at Neendakara which is a famous fishing harbour in Kerala
National Waterway 3 passes through it
Most tastiest backwater fish in Kerala, the Karimeen of kanjiracode Kayal is from Ashtamudi Lake

#2. Bhitarkanika Mangroves

Orissa
19 August 2002
650 sq. Km

Details:

In 1975, an area of 672 km2 was declared the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
The core area of the sanctuary, with an area of 145 km2, was declared Bhitarkanika National Park in September 1998
Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, which bounds the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary to the east, was created in September 1997, and encompasses Gahirmatha Beach and an adjacent portion of the Bay of Bengal
Bhitarkanika Mangroves were designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2002
It is also famous for its salt water crocodiles and Olive ridley sea turtle

#3. Bhoj Wetland

Madhya Pradesh
19 August 2002
32 sq. Km

Details:

The Bhoj Wetland consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal
The two lakes are the Bhojtal and the Lower Lake, which lie to the west of the city center
It is a manmade reservoir
A total of more than 20,000 birds are observed annually
The Upper Lake acts as the lifeline of the city supplying 40% of its potable water
White storks, black-necked storks, bar-headed geese, spoonbills, etc., that have been rare sightings in the past, have started appearing
A recent phenomenon is the gathering of 100-120 sarus cranes in the lake
The largest bird of India, the sarus crane (Grus antigone) is known for its size, majestic flight and lifetime pairing

#4. Chandra Taal

Himachal Pradesh
8 November 2005
0.49

#5. Chilika Lake

Orissa
1 October 1981
1165

Details:

source

Chilka Lake (Chilika Lake) is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km2.
It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest lagoon in the world
The lagoon hosts over 160 species of birds in the peak migratory season
Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here
These birds travel great distances; migratory birds probably follow much longer routes than the straight lines, possibly up to 12,000 km, to reach Chilika Lake
In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention
In November 2002, the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award was presented to the Chilika Development Authority for outstanding achievements in the field of restoration and wise use of wetlands and effective participation of local communities in these activities
White bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, flamingos, egrets, gray and purple herons, Indian roller, storks, white ibis, spoonbills, brahminy ducks, shovellers, pintails, and more
Nalbana Island is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of Chilika Lake
Nalbana was notified in 1987 and declared a bird sanctuary in 1973 under the Wildlife Protection Act
The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is the flagship species of Chilika lake
Chilka is home to the only known population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India and one of only two lagoons in the world that are home to this species
It is classified as critically endangered, in five of the six other places it is known to live

#6. Deepor Beel

Assam
19 August 2002
40

#7. East Calcutta Wetlands

West Bengal
19 August 2002
125

Details:

World-renowned as a model of a multiple use wetland
The site’s resource recovery systems, developed by local people through the ages, have saved the city of Calcutta from the costs of constructing and maintaining waste water treatment plants
The wetland forms an urban facility for treating the city’s waste water and utilizing the treated water for pisciculture and agriculture, through the recovery of nutrients in an efficient manner- the water flows through fish ponds covering about 4,000 ha, and the ponds act as solar reactors and complete most of their bio-chemical reactions with the help of solar energy
Thus the system is described as one of the rare examples of environmental protection and development management where a complex ecological process has been adopted by the local farmers for mastering the resource recovery activities
The wetland provides about 150 tons of fresh vegetables daily, as well as some 10,500 tons of table fish per year, the latter providing livelihoods for about 50,000 people directly and as many again indirectly
The fish ponds are mostly operated by worker cooperatives, in some cases in legal associations and in others in cooperative groups whose tenurial rights are under legal challenge
A potential threat is seen in recent unauthorized use of the waste water outfall channels by industries which add metals to the canal sludge and threaten the edible quality of the fish and vegetables

#8. Harike Wetland

Punjab
23 March 1990
41

Details:

A shallow water reservoir with thirteen islands, at the confluence of two rivers
Dense floating vegetation covers 70% of the lake
An important site for breeding, wintering and staging birds, supporting over 200,000 Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans, etc.) during migration
The entire lake is leased on an annual basis to commercial fishery organizations

#9. Hokera Wetland

Jammu and Kashmir
8 November 2005
13.75

Details:

Located in the northwest Himalayan biogeographic province of Kashmir, back of the snow-draped Pir Panchal, Hokera wetland is only 10 km from scenic paradise of Srinagar
A natural perennial wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin, it is the only site with remaining reedbeds of Kashmir and pathway of 68 waterfowl species like Large Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Little Cormorant, Common Shelduck, Tufted Duck and endangered White-eyed Pochard, coming from Siberia, China, Central Asia, and Northern Europe
It is an important source of food, spawning ground and nursery for fishes, besides offering feeding and breeding ground to a variety of water birds
Typical marshy vegetation complexes inhabit like Typha, Phragmites, Eleocharis, Trapa, and Nymphoides species ranging from shallow water to open water aquatic flora
Sustainable exploitation of fish, fodder and fuel is significant, despite water withdrawals since 1999
Potential threats include recent housing facilities, littered garbage, and demand for increasing tourist facilities

#10. Kanjli Wetland

Punjab
22 January 2002
1.83

Details:

A permanent stream, the Kali Bein, converted by construction of a small barrage in 1870 into a water storage area for irrigation purposes
The site fulfils Criteria 3 because of its importance in supporting a considerable diversity of aquatic, mesophytic, and terrestrial flora and fauna in the biogeographical region
Acts also as a key regulator of groundwater discharge and recharge with the seasons
By this means and by direct abstraction of water for irrigation by the local population, the site plays a crucial role in the agriculture which predominates on the surrounding fertile plain, with fewer pressures upon water supplies than elsewhere in the Punjab
The invasive water hyacinth is present and must be removed from time to time; increasing pollution levels, deforestation in the catchment area, and excessive grazing are seen as potential threats
The stream is considered to be the most significant in the state from the religious point of view, as it is associated with the first guru of the Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
The stream itself and surrounding marsh is under provincial ownership and surrounding areas privately owned.
The site is a center for environmental tourism and picnicking

#11. Keoladeo National Park

Rajasthan
1 October 1981
28.73

Details:

A complex of ten artificial, seasonal lagoons, varying in size, situated in a densely populated region
Vegetation is a mosaic of scrub and open grassland that provides habitat for breeding, wintering and staging migratory birds
Also supported are five species of ungulates, four species of cats, and two species of primates, as well as diverse plants, fish and reptiles
The canal provides water for agriculture and domestic consumption
Cattle and water buffalo graze on the site
A field research station exists
Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to ‘water shortage and an unbalanced grazing regime’
Additionally, the invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has changed the ecological character of large areas of the site, reducing its suitability for certain waterbird species, notably the Siberian crane

#12. Kolleru Lake

Andhra Pradesh
19 August 2002
901
It is a bird sanctuary

#13. Loktak Lake

Manipur
23 March 1990
266

source

Details:

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern region of the country
It is famous for the phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matters at various stages of decomposition) floating over it
Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world floats over it
It is located near Moirang, Bishnupur district in Manipur
The etymology of Loktak is Lok = stream and tak = the end
The Keibugl Lamjao National Park, which is the last natural refuge of the endangered ‘Sangai’ or Manipur brow-antlered deer (‘Cervus eldi eldi’), one of three subspecies of Eld’s deer, covering an area of 40 km2 (15 sq mi), is situated in the southeastern shores of this lake and is the largest of all the phumdis in the lake
This place is a global tourist destination
‘Sendra tourist hub’ (a small hillock) is located at Moirang, around 58 km from the heart of the city

#14. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

Gujarat
24 September 2012
123

Details:

A natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) that is the largest natural wetland in the Thar Desert Biogeographic Province
Represents a dynamic environment with salinity and depth varying depending on rainfall
The area is home to 210 species of birds, with an average 174,128 individuals recorded there during the winter and 50,000 in the summer
It is an important stopover site within the Central Asia Flyway, with globally threatened species such as the critically endangered Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) and the vulnerable Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) stopping over at the site during migration, while the vulnerable Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) takes refuge there during summer when other water bodies are dry
The wetland is also a lifeline for a satellite population of the endangered Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur) which uses this area in the dry season
Local communities heavily rely on the lake as it provides them with a source of drinking water and water for irrigation, as well as an important source of income from fishing for Catla fish (Catla Catla) and Rohu (Labeo rohita)
An average of 75,000 tourists visit the wetland annually

#15. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary

Tamil Nadu
19 August 2002
385

Details:

One of the last remnants of Dry Evergreen Forests
Habitat: Dry Evergreen Forests, Mangrove & Wetlands
Winter Migrants : Spoon Billed Sandpiper, Greater Flamingos
Threats: Agricultural & Shrimp farm runoff =>High concentration of DDT & HCH in their tissue

#16. Pong Dam Lake

Himachal Pradesh
19 August 2002
156.62

Details:

A water storage reservoir created in 1975 on the Beas River in the low foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic plain
The RIS notes that at a time when wetlands in northern India are getting reduced due to extensive drainage and reclamation, the avian habitats formed by the creation of the Pong Dam assume a great significance
Given the site’s location on the trans-Himalayan flyway, more than 220 bird species have been identified, with 54 species of waterfowl
Hydrological values include monsoon-season flood prevention, both in the surroundings and downstream due to water regulation, groundwater recharge, silt trapping and prevention of soil erosion; electricity is generated for this and neighboring states, and irrigation water is being channeled to fertile areas of the Punjab and Rajasthan deserts.
Low-yield subsistence fishing existed prior to impoundment, but since, a lucrative fishery has grown up, with 27 fish species and a yield increasing markedly each year- some 1800 fishermen now have direct employment and 1000 families benefit indirectly
A nature conservation education centre is found on the island of Ransar or Ramsar
Recent management strategies have shifted away from law enforcement and use restrictions towards more participatory approaches and community awareness, and the site is well suited to ‘community-based ecotourism’

#17. Renuka Lake

Himachal Pradesh
8 November 2005
0.2

Details:

A natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations, fed by a small stream flowing from the lower Himalayan out to the Giri river
The lake is home to at least 443 species of fauna and 19 species of ichthyofauna representative of lacustrine ecosystems like Puntius, Labeo, Rasbora, Channa
Prominent vegetation ranges from dry deciduous like Shorea Robusta, Terminalia tomentosa, Dalbergia sissoo to hydrophytes
There are 103 species of birds of which 66 are residents, e.g. Crimson-breasted barbet, Mayna, Bulbul, Pheasants, Egrets, Herons, Mallards and Lapwing
Among ungulates Sambhar, Barking deer and Ghorals are also abundant in the area
The lake has high religious significance and is named after the mother of Hindu sage Parshuram, and is thus visited by thousands of pilgrims and tourists
Conservation measures so far include community awareness, and prevention of silt influx from eroded slopes and 50 ha. of massive plantation in the catchment
The site is managed by the Shimla Forest Department, Himachal Pradesh

#18. Ropar Wetland

Punjab
22 January 2002
13.65

Details:

A manmade wetland of lake and river formed by the 1952 construction of a barrage for diversion of water from the Sutlej River for drinking and irrigation supplies
The site is an important breeding place for the nationally protected Smooth Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Sambar, and several reptiles, and the endangered Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is thought to be present
Some 35 species of fish play an important role in the food chain, and about 150 species of local and migratory birds are supported
Local fisheries are economically significant, and wheat, rice, sugar cane, and sorghum are cultivated in the surrounding area
Deforested local hills leading to siltation, and increasing industrialization causing an inflow of pollutants, are potential threats, and invasive weeds are a further cause for concern
Nature lovers, birdwatchers, swimmers and boaters visit the site in considerable numbers

#19. Rudrasagar Lake

Tripura
8 November 2005
2.4

#20. Sambhar Lake

Rajasthan
23 March 1990
240

Details:

The Sambhar Salt Lake, India’s largest inland salt lake
Sambhar has been designated as a Ramsar site (recognized wetland of international importance) because the wetland is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia
The specialized algae and bacteria growing in the lake provide striking water colours and support the lake ecology that, in turn, sustains the migrating waterfowl
There is other wildlife in the nearby forests, where Nilgai move freely along with deer and foxes

#21. Sasthamkotta Lake

Kerala
19 August 2002
3.73

Details:

It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, situated in Kollam district
River Kallada had a unique replenishing system through a bar of paddy field which has now disappeared due to indiscriminate sand and clay mining
The lake is now depleting due to destruction of replenishing mechanism

#22. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes

Jammu and Kashmir
8 November 2005
3.5

#23. Tsomoriri

Jammu and Kashmir
19 August 2002
120

Details:

A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level, with wet meadows and borax-laden wetlands along the shores
The site is said to represent the only breeding ground outside of China for one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), and the only breeding ground for Bar-headed geese in India
The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) and Tibetan Wild Ass (Equus kiang) are endemic to the Tibetan plateau, of which the Changthang is the westernmost part
The barley fields at Korzok have been described as the highest cultivated land in the world
With no outflow, evaporation in the arid steppe conditions causes varying levels of salinity
Ancient trade routes and now major trekking routes pass the site
The 400-year-old Korzok monastery attracts many tourists, and the wetland is considered sacred by local Buddhist communities and the water is not used by them
The local community dedicated Tsomoriri as a WWF Sacred Gift for the Living Planet in recognition of WWF-India’s project work there
The rapidly growing attraction of the recently opened area to western tourists (currently 2500 per summer) as an ‘unspoilt destination’ with pristine high desert landscapes and lively cultural traditions brings great promise but also potential threats to the ecosystem

#24. Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)

Uttar Pradesh
8 November 2005
265.9

Details:

A shallow river stretch of the great Ganges with intermittent small stretches of deep-water pools and reservoirs upstream from barrages
The river provides habitat for IUCN Red listed Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial, Crocodile, 6 species of turtles, otters, 82 species of fish and more than hundred species of birds
Major plant species, some of which have high medicinal values, include Dalbergia sissoo, Saraca indica, Eucalyptus globulus, Ficus bengalensis, Dendrocalamus strictus, Tectona grandis, Azadirachta indica and aquatic Eichhorina
This river stretch has high Hindu religious importance for thousands of pilgrims and is used for cremation and holy baths for spiritual purification
Major threats are sewage discharge, agricultural runoff, and intensive fishing
Conservation activities carried out are plantation to prevent bank erosion, training on organic farming, and lobbying to ban commercial fishing

#25. Vembanad-Kol Wetland

Kerala
19 August 2002
1512.5

Details:

Largest lake of Kerala, spanning across Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts
Famous tourist locations like Alappuzha and Kumarakom, known for house boats falls here
River mouths of Pamba-Achenkovil rivers in Vembanad forms one of the unique wetland topography of Kerala, the Kuttanad
It is below sea level and is famous for exotic fish varieties and Paddy fields that are below sea level

#26. Wular Lake

Jammu and Kashmir
23 March 1990
189

Details:

The largest freshwater lake in India with extensive marshes of emergent and floating vegetation, particularly water chestnut, that provide an important source of revenue for the State Government and fodder for domestic livestock
The lake supports an important fishing industry and is a valuable source of water for irrigation and domestic use
The area is important for wintering, staging and breeding birds
Human activities include rice cultivation and tree farming