Rajasthan

• 01 Jan 2024

Proposal to Develop Wetlands as Ramsar Sites

Why in News?

Recently, the Rajasthan government has sent a proposal to the Union environment ministry to develop 5 Wetlands in the state as Ramsar sites.

• Before this, Sambhar Lake was declared as a Ramsar site in march 1990 and Keoladeo Ghana National Park declared in October 1981.

Key Points

• The State Wetland Authority has proposed Khinchan bird sanctuary in Jodhpur, Chandlai in Jaipur, Kanwas Pakshi Vihar in Kota, Lunkaransar in Bikaner, and Menar Lake in Udaipur district.
  • According to the officials, all 5 wetlands fall into the Central Asian Flyway, which is used by migratory birds that start flying to this region from November onwards till February for warmer temperatures.
• At these sites, the state pollution control board is taking action to stop industrial effluents from being released into the water. Efforts to stop encroachment are also being done.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

• It is an intergovernmental treaty, adopted on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.
• In India, it came into force on February 1, 1982, under which wetlands of international importance are declared as Ramsar sites.
  • As of 2023, the total Ramsar sites in India are 75.
• The Ramsar tag helps in better maintenance and management of a wetland and aids tourism for the region.