- According to India State of Forest Report, 2019, the country has 62,466 wetlands covering 3.83 per cent of its recorded forest area. A total of 37 sites (including 10 recent added) in India have been recognised under the convention.
- Newly added Ramsar sites:
- The new Ramsar sites of India are in three states – Uttar Pradesh (Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi and Sarsai Nawar), Maharashtra (Nauru Madhameshwar) and Punjab (Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve and Nangal).
- In Maharashtra:
- NandurMadhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary is located at Niphad Tehsil of Nashik District, known as the Bharatpur of Maharashtra. It’s Maharashtra’s first Ramsar site. It lies on the bank of river Godavari.
- In Punjab
- Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve
- The Reserve is a mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture ponds and agricultural wetlands maintained by the annual rainfall runoff.
- The site is an example of wise use of a community-managed wetland, which provides food for people and supports local biodiversity.
- Threatened species present include the vulnerable Common pochard and the endangered spotted Pond turtle.
- Beas conservation reserve:
- The Beas Conservation Reserve is a 185-kilometre stretch of the Beas River located primarily in the north-west of the State of Punjab.
- The Reserve hosts the only known population in India of the endangered Indus river dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor).
- Further threatened species include the endangered Masheer and Hog deer as well as the vulnerable smooth-coated otter.
- In 2017, a programme was initiated to re-introduce the critically endangered gharial with 47 individuals released into the river 30 years after their disappearance.
- Nangal wetland
- The Nangal wetland draws sustenance from the Sutlej River (like Harike and Ropar).
- It is home to resident as well as migratory birds including the red jungle fowl, large Indian parakeet, Indian cuckoo, wood shrike, yellow-eyed babbler and crested bunting.
- The migratory bird, Sarus crane has also been sighted
- The wetland also houses threatened species like the Indian pangolin and an important habitat for the smooth Indian otter, the hog deer and the sambar.
- Uttar Pradesh
- Nawabganj
- Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, renamed in 2015 as Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary, is a bird sanctuary located in Unnao district of UP.
- The sanctuary provides protection for 250 species of migratory birds mostly from CIS (or formerly USSR).
- Parvati Arga
- Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary is situated in the Gonda District.
- It sustains resident birds throughout the year and migratory birds during winter season.
- It was a part of the Saryu River.
- As the river changed its flow path these lakes were left as its remains.
- Thus the sanctuary consists of two lakes, Parvati and Arga, situated about 1.5 km apart and both are oxbow lakes.
- Saman
- Saman Bird Sanctuary is in the Mainpuri district.
- The sanctuary is best suited for Bird safari.
- Sandi
- Sandi Bird sanctuary is situated in Hardoi district and the Garra river formerly known as Garun Ganga, passes near the sanctuary.
- This sanctuary has been listed as an “important bird area” by the Bombay Natural History Society.
- It is also called “Deher Jheel” in common parlance.
- In the past, the rare Siberian white crane Grus leucogeranus has been spotted here.
- Sarsai Nawar
- Sarsai Nawar Wetland is a bird sanctuary in Etawah district.
- It is the roosting area of the largest flock of Sarus Crane Grus Antigone in the region.
- The name of the lake is derived from the Sarus (Sarsai from Sarus, and Nawar meaning shallow wetland).
- Three resident species of storks, namely the Painted Mycteria leucocephala, Wooly-necked or White-necked Ciconia episcopus and Black-necked Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus feed in the lake throughout the year.
- The wetland is unusual in that the principal vegetation is Cyperus rotundus and there is no emergent vegetation.
