What makes the Rowmari-Donduwa wetlands in Assam a candidate for Ramsar site status?

The Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex in Assam's Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary is home to an average of 120 bird species annually, including globally threatened species, and serves as a crucial wildlife corridor between the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve and Orang National Park.

What is the current status of the proposal to designate the Rowmari-Donduwa wetlands as a Ramsar site?

As of 2025-11-02T18:21:30+00:00, the Assam Forest Department has submitted a proposal to pursue the elevation of the Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex to a Ramsar Site, recognizing its outstanding avian diversity and ecological significance.

Home / Environment / Conservationists Seek Ramsar Status for Assam's Thriving Wetlands

Conservationists Seek Ramsar Status for Assam's Thriving Wetlands

Q: How do the bird populations at the Rowmari-Donduwa wetlands compare to existing Ramsar sites in the region?

According to the recent Kaziranga Waterbird Census, the Rowmari-Donduwa wetlands recorded over 47,000 birds of 88 species, exceeding the counts at the existing Ramsar sites of Deepor Beel in Assam and Loktak Lake in Manipur.

2 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex records more birds than Assam's Deepor Beel and Manipur's Loktak Lake
Wetlands function as corridors for wildlife migration between Kaziranga and Orang
Proposal submitted to designate Rowmari-Donduwa as a Ramsar site

Conservationists Seek Ramsar Status for Assam's Thriving Wetlands

As of 2025-11-02T18:21:30+00:00, conservationists, wildlife officials, academics, and students have come together to advocate for Ramsar site designation for the Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex in central Assam's Nagaon district. The wetlands, located within the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, which is part of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, have been recording more bird species than the only two Ramsar sites in the northeast - Assam's Deepor Beel and Manipur's Loktak Lake.

The Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex, spanning approximately 3 sq. km, is home to an average of 120 species of resident and migratory birds annually, including globally threatened species such as the knob-billed duck, black-necked stork, and the ferruginous pochard. According to the recent Kaziranga Waterbird Census, the wetlands recorded over 47,000 birds of 88 species, exceeding the counts at the existing Ramsar sites.