List of Ramsar Sites in India
Encyclopedia
The list of Ramsar Sites in India comprises Indian wetlands deemed to be of "international importance" under the Ramsar Convention
. For a full list of all Ramsar Sites worldwide, see the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance
.
According to WWF-India
, wetlands are one of the most threatened of all ecosystem
s in India. Loss of vegetation, salinization, excessive inundation, water pollution
, invasive species
, excessive development
and road building, have all damaged the country’s wetlands.
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
. For a full list of all Ramsar Sites worldwide, see the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance
Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance
This is the list of wetlands of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.The Convention...
.
According to WWF-India
WWF-India
WWF-India is the Indian part of the WWF. It has an autonomous office, with the Secretariat based in New Delhi and various State, Divisional and Project offices spread across India....
, wetlands are one of the most threatened of all ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s in India. Loss of vegetation, salinization, excessive inundation, water pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
, invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, excessive development
Land development
Land development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
and road building, have all damaged the country’s wetlands.
List of Ramsar Sites
(as of February 2, 2007)| Name | | Area (km²) |
|---|---|
| Ashtamudi Wetland Ashtamudi Lake Ashtamudi Lake in the Kollam District of Kerala, India, is the second largest and deepest wetland ecosystem, a palm-shaped large water body, next only to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state. Ashtamudi means 'eight coned' in the local language of Malayalam... , Kerala Kerala or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions.... (19/08/02) |
614 |
| Bhitarkanika Mangroves Bhitarkanika Mangroves The Bhitarkanika Mangroves are a mangrove wetland in India's Orissa state. The Bhitarkanika Mangroves cover an area of 650 km² in the river delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers.- History :... , Orissa Orissa Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April... (19/08/02) |
650 |
| Bhoj Wetland Bhoj Wetland The Bhoj Wetland consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal, the capital of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The two lakes are the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake, which lie to the west of the city center. The Upper Lake has an area of 31 km², and drains a catchment or... , Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city.... (19/08/02) |
32 |
| Chandra Taal Chandra Taal Chandra Taal , or Chandra Tal, is situated at an altitude of about in the Himalayas. Mountains of scree overlook the lake on one side, and a magnificent cirque presents a view on the other. The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape... , Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east... (08/11/05) |
.49 |
| Chilika Lake, Orissa Orissa Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April... (01/10/81) |
1165 |
| Deepor Beel, Assam Assam Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country... (19/08/02) |
40 |
| East Calcutta Wetlands East Calcutta Wetlands The East Calcutta Wetlands, also known as the East Kolkata Wetlands, are a complex of natural and human-made wetlands lying east of the city of Calcutta , West Bengal in India. The wetlands cover 125 square kilometres, and include salt marshes and salt meadows, as well as sewage farms and settling... , West Bengal West Bengal West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP... (19/08/02) |
125 |
| Harike Lake, Punjab (23/03/90) | 41 |
| Hokera Wetland, Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the... (08/11/05) |
13.75 |
| Kanjli, Punjab (22/01/02) | 1.83 |
| Keoladeo National Park Keoladeo National Park The Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India is a famous avifauna sanctuary that plays host to thousands of birds especially during the winter season. Over 230 species of birds are known to have made the... , Rajasthan Rajasthan Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with... (01/10/81) |
28.73 |
| Kolleru Lake Kolleru Lake Kolleru Lake is a large freshwater lake located in Andhra Pradesh state, India. Kolleru is located between Krishna and Godavari delta. Kolleru spans into two districts - Krishna and West Godavari. The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers... , Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third... (19/08/02) |
901 |
| Loktak Lake Loktak Lake Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, also called the only Floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis on it, is located near Moirang in Manipur state, India. The etymology of Loktak is Lok = "stream" and tak = "the end"... , Manipur Manipur Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of... (23/03/90) |
266 |
| Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Point Calimere Point Calimere, also called Cape Calimere, , is a low headland on the Coromandel Coast, in the Nagapattinam district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the apex of the Cauvery River delta, and marks a nearly right-angle turn in the coastline... , Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh... (19/08/02) |
385 |
| Pong Dam Lake, Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east... (19/08/02) |
156.62 |
| Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east... (08/11/05) |
.2 |
| Ropar, Punjab (22/01/02) | 13.65 |
| Rudrasagar Lake Rudrasagar Lake Rudrasagar Lake, also known as Rudijala, is a lake located in the Indian state of Tripura.The Government of India's Ministry of Environment and Forest has identified Rudrasagar as one of the wetlands of National Importance for conservation and sustainable use based on its bio-diversity and socio... , Tripura Tripura Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are... (08/11/05) |
2.4 |
| Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan Rajasthan Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with... (23/03/90) |
240 |
| Sasthamkotta Lake, Kerala Kerala or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions.... (19/08/02) |
3.73 |
| Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the... (08/11/05) |
3.5 |
| Tsomoriri Tsomoriri Tsomoriri or Lake Moriri , in the Changthang area, is a High Altitude Lake with an altitude of in Ladakh, India and is the largest of the High Altitude Lakes in the Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region, entirely within India... , Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the... (19/08/02) |
120 |
| Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch), Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity... (08/11/05) |
265.9 |
| Vembanad-Kol Wetland Vembanad Lake Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in... , Kerala Kerala or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions.... (19/08/02) |
1512.5 |
| Wular Lake Wular Lake Wular Lake , India's largest fresh water lake is located in Bandipore district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is also one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. The lake basin was formed as a result of tectonic activity and is fed by the Jhelum River... , Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the... (23/03/90) |
189 |
External links
- The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, "India plans 10 new Ramsar designations in WWD ceremonies" Press release (February 2, 2000)
- http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm?uNewsID=58200 WWF-IndiaWWF-IndiaWWF-India is the Indian part of the WWF. It has an autonomous office, with the Secretariat based in New Delhi and various State, Divisional and Project offices spread across India....
, "India highlights new Ramsar sites on World Wetlands Day" (2 February 2006)] - Conservation of wetlands of India – a review by S.N. PRASAD1, T.V. RAMACHANDRA2, N. AHALYA2, T. SENGUPTA1, ALOK KUMAR1, A.K. TIWARI3, V.S. VIJAYAN1 & LALITHA VIJAYAN1; 1Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore 641108, 2Center for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute Of Science, Bangalore 560012, 3Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre, Dehradun, Uttaranchal 248001; Tropical Ecology 43(1): 173-186, 2002 ISSN 0564-3295; © International Society for Tropical Ecology. PDF http://144.16.93.203/energy/water/paper/Conservation_of_wetlands_of_India.pdf