India adds 10 more sites to its Ramsar inventory

NEW DELHI: Ten more sites in India have been accorded Ramsar status taking the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 64. Six sites lie in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, while the other four sites are in the state of Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

India has been a signatory to the Ramsar Convention 1971, since February 1, 1982. The treaty aims to promote the conservation and wise use of wetland resources in a country. The total number of Ramsar sites in India has reached 64 covering a total area of 12,50,361 hectares.

Six sites in Tamil Nadu are Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Vembannur Wetland Complex, Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary. While the Satkosia Gorge falls in Odisha, Nanda Lake in Goa, Ranganathituu BS in Karnataka and Sirpur wetland in Madhya Pradesh.