India adds 10 more wetlands designated as Ramsar sites

Details of ten new wetlands-

 The 10 new sites include:  Six (6) sites in Tamil Nadu and One (1) each in Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha-

1. Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary (Tamilnadu): 

• It is a significant man-made wetland which covers an area of 72.04 ha. 
• It is situated in Nanguneri Taluk of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. 
• This is the largest reserve for breeding resident and migratory water birds in South India. 
• It is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area forming part of the Central Asian Flyway. 
• It irrigates about 190 acres of paddy.

2. Satkosia Gorge (Odisha): 

• Satkosia spreads along the magnificent gorge over the mighty river Mahanadi in Odisha. 
• Established in 1976 as a wildlife sanctuary, Satkosia supports a rich ecosystem, representing a diverse population of floral and faunal species. 
• It is the meeting point of two biogeographic regions of India; the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats, contributing immense biodiversity. 
• Satkosia Gorge wetland is a mosaic of marshes and evergreen forests. The forests of these catchments play a vital role in the prevention of the gorge siltation. 
• It also helps in maintaining a specific desirable depth of water crucial for the endangered gharial population and spawning of commercially important carps species. 

3. Nanda Lake (Goa): 

• It is considered to be critically significant for its ecosystem services and biodiversity values for the local communities and society at large. 
• The majority of the area is intermittent freshwater marshes that lie adjacent to one of the major rivulets of the Zuari River. This enables the locals to store the water during the off-monsoon season. 
• The stored water is also utilized to cultivate paddy downstream of the lake and supports fishing and recreation. 
• During the monsoons the sluice gate is opened and the water is released which changes the character of the lake into a marshland. During this time the marshland is also utilized to grow paddy.
• This lake is habitat for notable faunal species include Threskiornis melanocephalus (Black-headed ibis), Alcedoatthis (Common kingfisher), Hirundo smithii (Wire-tailed swallow), Metopidius indicus (Bronze-winged jacana), Haliastur indus (Brahminykite), Ardea intermedia (Intermediate egret), Vanellus indicus (Red-wattled lapwing), Microcarbo niger (Little cormorant) and Dendrocygna javanica (Lesser whistling duck). 

4. Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu): 

• It is located in the southeastern coastline of India, and is a unique marine environment rich in biodiversity. 
• This is the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in South & South -East Asia. 
• GoMBR is one of the most biologically diverse regions in India. 
• The Reserve is also home to several globally important and highly threatened species like the Dugong, whale shark, sea horses, Balanoglossus, 7 green sea turtle, Hawksbill turtle, dolphins, sacred chanks etc.  

5. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (Karnataka) : 

• It is located in Mandya district, of the state of Karnataka, India. 
• This is also the first and the only Ramsar site in Karnataka.
• The site has been enlisted as one of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Karnataka and India by Bombay Natural History Society. 
• It is an ecologically important riverine wetland of India, rich in biodiversity. 
• The site supports several threatened taxa which include critically endangered species of fishes etc.
• Besides, it also supports one species each of endangered, vulnerable, and endemic plant species, and about 98 medicinal plant species. 
• This proposed site supports healthy populations of mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the river waters harbour the endangered hump-backed masheer (Tor remadevii).

6. Vembannur Wetland Complex (Tamil Nadu): 

• Vembannur wetland in Tamil Nadu is a human-made inland tank. 
• This wetland forms the southernmost tip of peninsular India. 
• It also forms part of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and hence part of BirdLife International Data Zone. 
• About 250 species of birds have been recorded in the district. The site hosts around 12% of the total non-breeding population of garganey. Around 5 rare, endemic & threatened flora are present within the Site. 
• The tank is believed to have been constructed in the regime of Pandyan king Veeranarayana. 
• The tank and the Therrakal canal were designed to take water from River Pazhayar for irrigation purposes. 
• The River Pazhayar and Vembannur wetland collects the entire drainage of the valley and irrigates a substantial part of Nanchilwadu. 

7. Vellode Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): 

• It is located in the Vadamugam Vellode Village of the Perundurai Taluk, in the Erode District, Tamil Nadu. 
• It is provincially known as Periyakulam Yeri and is one of the 141 Prioritized wetlands in Tamil Nadu. 
• The wetlands have been evaluated and prioritized considering factors like the ecology of the wetland, earlier bird counts, records of breeding, and roosting colonies. 
• Spread over an area of 77.185 ha, this site forms part of the Central Asian Flyway.  

8. Sirpur Wetland (Madhya Pradesh): 

• Sirpur wetland is a significant historical wetland situated in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 
• It is not only important for its aesthetic value but it provides immense ecological services such as being an important source of water and helping groundwater recharge in the downstream areas. 
• It is also culturally important to the local communities of the city. The wetland supports a wide variety of flora and fauna. 
• It is an important nesting place for terrestrial and aquatic migratory & residential birds. 
• Presently, the wetland is being developed as a bird sanctuary and ecological learning center. 

9. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): 

• Vedanthangal wetland is one of the oldest bird-protected areas located in Maduranthagam Taluk of Chengalpattu District of Tamil Nadu. 
• This freshwater wetland is a people-protected water bird area, the history of which goes back to centuries where local people have been protecting this heronry and in return, have been benefited by the manure-rich water from the lake that increases the agriculture yield multifold–Liquid Guano Effect. 
• This site is also recognized internationally, as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). 
• It belongs to the Coromandel Coast biotic province.

10. Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): 

• It is located in the Tiruthuraipoondi Taluk of Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. 
• The site is an important staging and breeding ground for several species of waterbirds. 
• The notable species observed at the site are oriental darter, glossy ibis, grey Heron &Eurasian spoonbill. 
• It is one of the important breeding sites for the darter & Eurasian spoonbill.
• Udhayamarthandapuram stores floodwaters during monsoon overflows and maintains surface water flow during drier periods.

Further reading: https://journalsofindia.com/five-more-indian-wetlands-got-international-tag-of-ramsar-sites/