Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Wetland .............................................................................................................................................................. 2
Wetlands as per the Ramsar Convention ............................................................................................................. 2
Montreux Record ................................................................................................................................................ 2
Important Ramsar sites around the world ........................................................................................................... 2
Ramsar sites in India – Facts ................................................................................................................................ 2
State-wise Ramsar Sites in India .......................................................................................................................... 4
www.parchamclasses.in

RAMSAR SITES OF INDIA

Introduction
• Ramsar sites are wetlands that are designated as being of international importance under the Ramsar
Convention.
• The Ramsar Convention is an Intergovernmental treaty established by UNESCO - provides the framework
for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• Adopted on 2nd February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. Came into force from 21st December, 1975.
• India is one of the Contracting Parties to Ramsar Convention, signed it on 1st Feb 1982.
• February 2 is celebrated as the International Wetlands Day

Wetland
Lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface, or
the land is covered by shallow water

Wetlands must have one or more of the following three attributes:

1. at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytes;
2. the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and
3. the substrate is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at some time
during the growing season of each year.

Wetlands as per the Ramsar Convention

• Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary,
with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of
which at low tide does not exceed six metres.
• For example, marine and coastal areas; Estuaries; Lakes and rivers; Marshes and peatlands; Groundwater
and human-made wetlands such as rice paddies, shrimp ponds, and reservoirs.

Montreux Record
• The Montreux Record was established in 1990
• It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
• These sites are included in the record if they have experienced, are experiencing, or are likely to experience
changes in their ecological character. These changes can be caused by human interference, pollution, or
technological developments.
• Two wetlands in India are included in the Montreux Record:
• Keoladeo National Park: Located in Rajasthan
• Loktak Lake: Located in Manipur
• Chilika Lake was added to the Montreux Record in 1993 due to siltation and sedimentation that clogged the
lake's mouth. However, in 2002, the lake was removed from the record after rehabilitation work.

Important Ramsar sites around the world

• World’s first Ramsar Site - Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974.
• World’s largest Ramsar Site - Rio Negro in Brazil (1,20,000 km2)
• Country with maximum Ramsar Sites - United Kingdom (175 sites)

Ramsar sites in India – Facts

• First Ramsar sites in India - Chilika Lake in Orissa and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, recognized in
1981

Connect Us - 2
www.parchamclasses.in

• The total number of Ramsar Sites in India rise to 80 (as on Feb 2024).
• Maximum number of Ramsar Sites - Tamil Nadu (16 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).
• Largest Ramsar Wetland in India - Sunderbans Wetland in West Bengal (4230)
• Smallest Ramsar Wetland in India - Renuka wetland in Himachal Pradesh (0.20)

Connect Us - 3
www.parchamclasses.in

5 Indian wetlands added to Ramsar list on 31st Jan, 2024

3 added in Karnataka:
• Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve (human-made wetland - one of the largest wintering grounds for Bar-
headed goose in Southern India)
• Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (humanmade Village Irrigation Tank built centuries back)
• Aghanashini Estuary (formed at the confluence of Aghanashini River with the Arabian sea)
2 added in Tamil Nadu:
• Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary (one of the largest inland wetlands of Tamil Nadu)
• Longwood Shola Reserve Forest (forested wetland. Tamil word, "Solai", means a ‘tropical rain forest’.)

State-wise Ramsar Sites in India

S. No. Name of Site रामसर %थल (वेटल+,स) State

1 Tso moriri Lake !सो-मोर&र& Ladakh
2 Tso Kar Wetland Complex !सो कार आ*भ-ू म प/रसर Ladakh
3 Hokera Wetland होकेरा वेटल5ड Jammu & Kashmir
4 Wular Lake वल
ु र झील Jammu & Kashmir
5 Surinsar-Mansar Lakes स/ू रंसार-मानसर झील< Jammu & Kashmir
6 Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve हाइगम वेटल5ड कंजव@शन /रजवB Jammu & Kashmir
7 Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve शालबग
ु वेटल5ड कंजव@शन /रजवB Jammu & Kashmir
8 Chandertal Wetland चं*ताल वेटल5ड Himachal Pradesh
9 Pong Dam Lake पFग बांध झील Himachal Pradesh
10 Renuka Wetland रे णक
ु ा वेटल5ड Himachal Pradesh
11 Asan Conservation Reserve आसन संरIण /रजवB Uttarakhand
12 Beas Conservation Reserve Jयास संरIण /रजवB Punjab
13 Harike Lake ह/रके झील Punjab
14 Kanjli Lake कंजल& झील Punjab

Connect Us - 4
www.parchamclasses.in

15 Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve केशोपरु -मआनी कLयMु नट& /रजवB Punjab

16 Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary नांगल वNयजीव अभयारPय Punjab
17 Ropar Lake रोपड़ झील Punjab
18 Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary -भPडावास वNयजीव अभयारPय Haryana
19 Sultanpur National Park सR
ु तानपरु नेशनल पाकB Haryana
20 Upper Ganga River ऊपर/ गंगा नद/, Uttar Pradesh
(Brijghat to Narora Stretch)
4जघाट से नरौरा 8खंचाव
21 Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary नवाबगंज पIी अभयारPय Uttar Pradesh
22 Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary पावBती अरगा पIी अभयारPय Uttar Pradesh
23 Saman Bird Sanctuary समन पIी अभयारPय Uttar Pradesh
24 Samaspur Bird Sanctuary समसपरु पIी अभयारPय Uttar Pradesh
25 Sandi Bird Sanctuary साPडी पIी अभयारPय Uttar Pradesh
26 Sarsai Nawar Jheel सरसई नावर झील Uttar Pradesh
27 Sur Sarovar सरु सरोबर Uttar Pradesh
28 Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary ब8खरा व<यजीव अभयारAय Uttar Pradesh
29 Haiderpur Wetland है दरपरु वेटल5ड Uttar Pradesh
30 Kabartal Wetland काबर तल Bihar
31 Bhoj Wetlands भोज वेटल5ड Madhya Pradesh
32 Sakhya Sagar साVय सागर Madhya Pradesh
33 Sirpur wetland -सरपरु आ*B भ-ू म Madhya Pradesh
34 Yashwant Sagar यशवंत सागर Madhya Pradesh
35 Bhitarkanika Mangroves BभतरकEनका म+Fोव Odisha
36 Chilka Lake Wच-लका झील Odisha
37 Tampara Lake टाLपरा झील Odisha
38 Hirakud Reservoir ह&राकंु ड जलाशय Odisha
39 Ansupa Lake अंसप
ु ा झील Odisha
40 Satkosia Gorge सतको-सया गॉजB Odisha
41 Sunderbans Wetland संद
ु र वन डेRटा West Bengal
42 East Kolkata Wetlands पव
ू B कलकYा वेटल5Zस West Bengal
43 Deepor Beel द&पोर बील Assam
44 Loktak Lake लोकतक झील Manipur
45 Pala wetland पाला आ*B भ-ू म Mizoram
46 Rudrasagar Lake [*सागर झील Tripura
47 Keoladeo Ghana NP केवलादे व रा\]&य उ_यान Rajasthan
48 Sambhar Lake सांभर झील Rajasthan
49 Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary नालसरोवर पIी अभयारPय Gujarat
50 Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary `खजाbदय वNयजीव अभयारPय Gujarat

Connect Us - 5
www.parchamclasses.in

51 Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary थोल झील वNयजीव अभयारPय Gujarat

52 Wadhvana Wildlife Sanctuary वाधवाना वेटल5ड वNयजीव Gujarat

अभयारPय
53 Lonar Lake लोनार झील Maharashtra
54 Nandur Madhameshwar नंदरू मधमेdवर Maharashtra
55 Thane Creek ठाणे fgक Maharashtra
56 Nanda Lake नंदा झील Goa
57 Kolleru Lake कोले[ झील Andhra Pradesh
58 Ranganathituu BS रं गनाIथतु बी एस Karnataka
59 Aghanashini Estuary अघना-शनी मह
ु ाना Karnataka
60 Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve अंकसम*
ु पIी संरIण /रजवB Karnataka
61 Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve मगद& केरे संरIण /रजवB Karnataka
62 Asthamudi Wetland अ\टमड
ु ी वेटल5ड Kerala
63 Sasthamkotta Lake सiथमकोjटा झील Kerala
64 Vembanad Kol Wetland वेLबनाड-कोल वेटल5ड Kerala
65 Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary कराईवेMट/ पNी अभयारAय Tamil Nadu
66 Longwood Shola Reserve Forest लॉNगवड
ु शोला /रजवB वन Tamil Nadu
67 Karikili Bird Sanctuary कर&kकल& पIी अlयारPय Tamil Nadu
68 Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest पRल&करनई माशB /रजवB फॉरे iट Tamil Nadu
69 Pichavaram Mangrove nपचवरम म5oोव Tamil Nadu
70 Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary pवाइंट कै-लमेरे वNयजीव और पIी Tamil Nadu

अभयारPय
71 Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary वेदा<थंगल पNी अOयारAय Tamil Nadu
72 Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary उदयमाथrदपरु म पIी अभयारPय Tamil Nadu
73 Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary कूनथनकुलम पIी अlयारPय Tamil Nadu
74 Gulf of Mannar Marine मNनार कg खाड़ी सम*
ु & बायोiफgयर Tamil Nadu
Biosphere Reserve
/रजवB
75 Vembannur Wetland Complex वेLबNनरू वेटल5ड कॉLpलेsस Tamil Nadu
76 Vellode Bird Sanctuary वेलोड पIी अlयारPय Tamil Nadu
77 Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary IचPांगुडी पNी अOयारAय Tamil Nadu
78 Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex सWु चN*म थेtर वेटल5ड कॉLpलेsस Tamil Nadu
79 Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary वडुवरु पIी अlयारPय Tamil Nadu
80 Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary कांजीरं कुलम पIी अlयारPय Tamil Nadu

Connect Us - 6