India Gains 2 New Wetlands: Patna Bird Sanctuary Joins Ramsar List

India has recently welcomed the addition of two new wetlands to its esteemed Ramsar network, just days before World Wetlands Day. The recognized sites include the Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch, Gujarat. This expansion brings India's total number of Ramsar sites to 96, covering approximately 1.36 million hectares of land.

Uttar Pradesh now holds the second position among Indian states for Ramsar sites, with 12.42 lakh hectares of wetland area, constituting 5.16% of its total geographical area. The Patna Bird Sanctuary, established in 1991, is notably Uttar Pradesh's smallest bird sanctuary, spanning 108 hectares. Despite its size, it serves as a critical resting habitat for over 106 species of migratory and resident birds, including a variety of waterfowl.

Ramsar sites are designated wetlands of international importance under the 1971 Ramsar Convention. They are crucial for conserving biodiversity, especially waterfowl habitats, and require sustainable management. Globally, over 2,520 such sites exist. The selection of these sites is based on their ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological, or hydrological significance, meeting specific criteria such as supporting vulnerable species.