India now has the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia

Five more Indian wetlands have got Ramsar recognition as wetlands of international importance. Three of these are located in Tamil Nadu; Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have one each.

With this, the total number of Ramsar sites in India has now gone up from 49 to 54.

The wetlands added to the Ramsar list are:

* Tamil Nadu: Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Pichavaram Mangrove in Tamil Nadu.

* Madhya Pradesh: Sakhya Sagar.

* Mizoram: Pala Wetland.

Announcing this development, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav tweeted,
"The emphasis PM Shri @narendramodi ji has put on environmental protection and conservation has led to a marked improvement in how India treats its wetlands.

Delighted to inform that 5 more Indian wetlands have got Ramsar recognition as wetlands of international importance".

In February 2022, the Indian government said it had established the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia with the addition of the Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in UP to this prestigious list. This had taken the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 49.

Ramsar is the name of the Iranian city where the Convention on Wetlands was adopted on February 2, 1971. The international agreement was aimed at promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands across the world.

Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation. They are a major source of water; wetlands help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater.