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The famous Soor Sarovar lake, also called Keetham, on the Agra-Delhi highway (NH-2), has been declared a ‘Ramsar site’ on the list of wetlands of international importance.

Highlights

• This is the eighth wetland in Uttar Pradesh to be declared as a Ramsar site in India.
• A Ramsar site is a wetland site, designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, through an inter-governmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975.
• The entire lake, pentagonal in shape, is formed in a catchment area of 7.13 sqkm.
• It was declared a national bird sanctuary in 1991 by the state Forest Department.
• With artificially created islands for shelter and breeding grounds to the migratory birds, the lake is home to more than 106 species of migratory and resident birds.
• The site is important for bird species which migrate on the Central Asian flyway, with over 30,000 water birds known to visit the reservoir annually.
• Besides supporting numerous resident and migratory birds, the sanctuary has around 300 pythons and more than 60 species of fish.

Why the focus on wetlands?

The Ramsar Convention definition for wetlands includes marshes, floodplains, rivers and lakes, mangroves, coral reefs and other marine areas no deeper than 6 metres at low tide, as well as human-made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs.

Ramsar site

• Any wetland site which is listed under the Ramsar Convention that intends to preserve it and advance sustainable utilization of its natural resources is known as a Ramsar Site.
• On 2 February 1971, the International Treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands was signed at a city of Iran called Ramsar, hence the name Ramsar Sites.

Wetlands

• As per the Ramsar Convention, Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.
• For example, marine and coastal areas; Estuaries; Lakes and rivers; Marshes and peatlands; Groundwater and human-made wetlands such as rice paddies, shrimp ponds, and reservoirs.

What is the status of wetlands in India?

• Wetlands are regulated under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
• The 2010 version of the Rules provided for a Central Wetland Regulatory Authority; the 2017 Rules replace it with state-level bodies and created a National Wetland Committee, which functions in an advisory role.
• The newer regulations removed some items from the definition of “wetlands” including backwaters, lagoon, creeks, and estuaries.
• “The 2010 Rules required States to identify and prepare Brief Documents, submit them to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, which was to notify them.

What does being a Ramsar Site mean?

• The designation is for “Wetlands of International Importance”.
• They are recognised as being of significant value not only for the country or the countries in which they are located, but for humanity as a whole.
• The inclusion of a wetland in the list embodies the government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.
• The Convention includes various measures to respond to threats to the ecological character of Sites,”.

Source: Indian Express