New Ramsar Sites in India

New Ramsar Sites in India

News: India has increased its tally of Ramsar sites to 80 by adding five more wetlands to the list on the eve of World Wetlands Day 2024.

World Wetlands Day 2024
• World Wetlands Day is celebrated globally on February 2nd each year. The theme for World Wetlands Day 2024 is \'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing,\' emphasizing the critical role wetlands play in enhancing human lives.
• New Ramsar sites - Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Aghanashini Estuary and Magadi Kere from Karnataka
• Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest from Tamil Nadu.
• These additions bring India’s total tally of Ramsar sites to 80.

Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve
• Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (ABCR) is a significant bird conservation reserve located in North Karnataka.
• The site is a human-made wetland built for storing monsoon run-off water coming from the Tungabhadra River and providing irrigation to surrounding drought-risk areas. It is widely known for its rich bird diversity, with some 35,000 birds of 240 species recorded. About 30 waterbird species breed at the site.
• The reserve is home to several thousand gum Arabic trees (Vachellia nilotica), which provide nesting, roosting, and breeding habitat for large colonies of waterbirds.

Aghanashini Estuary
• Aghanashini Estuary is a significant wetland site located in Karnataka, India. It is formed at the confluence of the Aghanashini River with the Arabian Sea.
• The estuary is home to a majority of fish species that can adapt to a wide range of saline environments. Some are migratory and only enter the site for spawning or during early life stages.

Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve
• A human-made wetland nearly 50 hectares in size, home to over 166 species of birds, of which 130 are migratory.
• It harbours two vulnerable species and four near-threatened species, and nearly 8,000 birds visit the site during winter.

Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary
• One of the largest inland wetlands in Tamil Nadu, covering an area of 453.72 hectares.
• It is a significant source of groundwater recharge for the area and provides water for agriculture.
• Karaivetti has one of the largest congregations of waterbirds in Tamil Nadu.

Longwood Shola Reserve Forest
• Derives its name from the Tamil word for \'tropical rainforest\'.
• It is home to a variety of endemic bird species, including the globally endangered Black-chinned Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin, and vulnerable Nilgiri Wood-pigeon.