New Ramsar Sites in India

Context

India has designated 10 more wetlands as Ramsar sites, taking the total tally of Ramsar Sites in India to 64. 

• The 10 new sites include Six (6) sites in Tamil Nadu and One (1) each in Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
  
  
  

About 10 New Ramsar Sites

• These are the 6 sites in Tamil Nadu -
• Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary.
• Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve.
• Vembannur Wetland Complex.
• Vellode Bird Sanctuary.
• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary.
• Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary.
• Satkosia Gorge in Odisha.
• Nanda Lake in Goa.
• Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka.
• Sirpur Wetland in Madhya Pradesh.
  
  
  

About Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

• The Conservation and Sustainable use of Wetlands was signed at a city of Iran called Ramsar in 1971.
• It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
• Ramsar Convention is a convention on wetlands that was signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. 
• The negotiations for the convention started in the 1960s by the different countries and NGOs for the protection of wetland habitats of migratory waterbirds. 
• Finally, it came into force in 1975.
• February 2 is celebrated as International Wetlands Day as the Ramsar Convention was signed on February 2, 1971.
• The Ramsar Convention works with the collaboration of the following organizations:
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Birdlife International.
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
• Wetlands International.
• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
• WWF International
• Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to:
• Work towards the wise use of all their wetlands.
• Designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management.
• Cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems, and shared species.