Two Wetlands from Bihar Take Indian Ramsar Sites to 93

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Two Wetlands from Bihar Take Indian Ramsar Sites to 93

India has added two new wetlands from Bihar to the Ramsar list, increasing the country’s total number of wetlands of international importance from 91 to 93.
The newly designated Ramsar sites are:
1. Gokul Jalashay – Located in Buxar district, covering 448 hectares.
2. Udaipur Jheel – Located in West Champaran district, covering 319 hectares.
These inclusions were announced by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
With the addition of these two sites, India’s total Ramsar area now stands at 13,60,719 hectares.
As per ministry data, between 1981 and 2024, 85 wetlands were designated as Ramsar sites, with the highest number (19) declared in 2022.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that this move strengthens India’s commitment to wetlands conservation, biodiversity protection, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
India now ranks first in Asia and third globally in the number of Ramsar Sites.
The minister further highlighted that the Indian Constitution, along with frameworks like the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the National Wildlife Action Plan, anchors India’s wetlands conservation efforts.

About the Ramsar Convention:

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran.
It provides a framework for conservation and wise use of wetlands globally.
India became a contracting party to the Convention in 1982.

Significance of Ramsar Sites:

A Ramsar designation promotes the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands.
Such wetlands are vital habitats for migratory birds, serving as critical stopover sites during long migrations.
Wetlands provide essential ecosystem services, including water purification, flood regulation, and biodiversity maintenance.

India’s Ramsar Profile (as of 2025):

Total Ramsar Sites: 93
Total Area Covered: 13,60,719 hectares
Recent Additions (2025): Gokul Jalashay (Buxar) & Udaipur Jheel (West Champaran), Bihar

Updated – 27 September 2025; 04:12 PM | ETV Bharat