India Increases Its Tally of Ramsar Sites to 94

India Increases Its Tally of Ramsar Sites to 94

Analysis:

1. India has added Gogabeel Lake in Katihar district, Bihar, as its 94th Ramsar site, reinforcing its commitment to wetland conservation.
2. Gogabeel Lake is an oxbow wetland situated between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers and is Bihar’s first community-managed wetland, highlighting the role of local communities in conservation.
3. With this addition, Bihar now has six Ramsar sites, ranking third among Indian states after Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
4. India leads Asia and ranks third globally in the total number of Ramsar sites, following the UK (176) and Mexico (144), out of 2,546 Ramsar sites worldwide.
5. Ramsar wetlands are critical for the hydrological cycle, flood control, water supply, and providing food, fibre, and raw materials.
6. The Ramsar Convention, adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands across its 172 member countries, including India.
7. In the last 11 years, India has added 67 Ramsar sites, covering an area of 13,60,805 hectares.

Static Background:

• Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance.
• Community-managed wetlands like Gogabeel Lake involve local stakeholders in conservation efforts.
• India’s Ramsar sites include diverse wetland types such as oxbow lakes, jheels, rivers, and reservoirs.

Updated - 05 Nov 2025; 02:18 PM IST | News Source: Times of India