Topic: Biodiversity and environment

Punjab gets three more wetlands as Internationally recognised Ramsar sites.

What is the Ramsar Convention?

• This convention on wetlands was signed in 1971 in a small Iranian town called Ramsar.
• This treaty was the first modern treaty between nations aimed at conserving natural resources.
• The Ramsar Convention’s broad aims are to stop the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve, through wise use and management, those that remain.
•  A wide variety of natural and human-made habitat types ranging from rivers to coral reefs can be included as wetlands.

 The three newly included ones are:-

• Keshopur Community reserve. ( GURDASPUR).
• Beas conservation reserve, 7 districts.
• Nangal wildlife sanctuary( Ropar ).

Other three Ramsar sites in Punjab are:-

•  Harike
•  Kanji
• Ropar.

Punjab has 1381 mapped wetlands.

Also, it has 5049 small wetlands.

The total wetland area in the state is around 1.71 % of the state’s total area.

This announcement came ahead of International Wetlands day, which falls on February 2.

This step would really benefit the state as:-

• It would boost eco-tourism in Punjab.
• More hospitality-based Industries could emerge in the state.
• More foreign exchange and other resources could be garnered.
• Conservation of critically endangered species could be beefed up e.g Gharials.
• Employment in the services sector could be increased.
•  Forestry and green belts could be promoted for furthering the eco-tourism potential.

About the new wetlands of Ramsar convention:-

1. Keshopur wetlands:-

• Spread over 343.9 hectares.
• It is a natural wetland.
• It is the only habitat for Sarus and common cranes in the state.

 2. Beas Conservation Reserve:-

• It is spread over 7 districts of Punjab:

Hoshiarpur.

Gurdaspur.

Amritsar.

Jalandhar.

Kapurthala.

Tarn Taran.

Ferozepur.

• It spreads over 185 km stretch of the Beas river starting from Talwara to Harike headworks.
• It is the only reserve that hosts Indus river dolphins.
• The Gharials reintroduction project was also undertaken here.

  3. Nangal wildlife sanctuary:-

• An area of 116 hectares.
• It is a man-made wetland, which came into existence as a. Result of the Bhakra Nangal project in 1961.

Criteria to be declared as Ramsar site:-
Learn more

(Source:- The Tribune)

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