Ramsar sites
Why in news?
India has recently added several new Ramsar sites, enhancing its wetland conservation efforts under the Ramsar Convention. These designations highlight biodiversity protection and align with initiatives like Amrit Dharohar.
New Additions
- Two wetlands in Bihar received Ramsar status: Gokul Jalashay (448 hectares) in Buxar district, an oxbow lake supporting birdlife, fishing, and flood buffering, and Udaipur Jheel (319 hectares) in West Champaran.
- These brought Bihar's total Ramsar sites to five.​
- Khichan in Phalodi and Menar in Udaipur, Rajasthan, were designated.
- Khichan hosts migratory Demoiselle cranes, while Menar emphasizes community-led bird conservation.​
- Additional 2025 additions include Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan), Kopra Jalashay (Chhattisgarh), and Gogabeel Lake (Bihar), pushing the total to 96 sites covering over 1.3 million hectares.
- Earlier in February, four more sites were added, including in Tamil Nadu.​
About Ramsar sites
- Ramsar sites are wetlands designated under the Ramsar Convention for their international ecological importance, focusing on conservation and sustainable use.
- India leads South Asia with the highest number of such sites.
- As of late 2025, the country has around 93 to 96 Ramsar sites, with recent additions in states like Bihar, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.​
- These sites support biodiversity, including migratory birds, and provide ecosystem services like flood control and water purification.
- Tamil Nadu has the most with 20 sites, followed by others like Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
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