A total of 28 sites have been declared as Ramsar sites this year itself

India has added 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites to make a total of 75 in the country in the 75th year of Independence. These Ramsar sites cover an area of 13,26,677 hectares (ha).

Of the new sites, four are in Tamil Nadu, three in Odisha, two in Jammu & Kashmir and one each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The new sites are:

Tamil Nadu: Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary; Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex ; Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary; Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary.

Odisha: Tampara Lake; Hirakud Reservoir; Ansupa Lake.

Jammu & Kashmir: Hygam Wetland
Conservation Reserve; Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve

Madhya Pradesh: Yashwant Sagar.

Maharashtra: Thane Creek.

Designation of these sites would help in conservation and management of wetlands and wise use of their resources, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said announcing the development on Saturday.

A total of 28 sites have been declared as Ramsar sites this year itself. Based on the date of designation mentioned on Ramsar Certificate, the number is 19 for this year (2022) and 14 for previous year (2021), the ministry said.

"PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s love and care for environment is helping India scale newer heights in conservation. Elated to inform that 11 more Indian wetlands have got Ramsar recognition. This takes our tally to 75 sites," Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav tweeted.

During 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 sites were added to the list of Ramsar sites, however, during 2014 to 2022, the country has added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites, the ministry pointed out. Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of Ramsar sites (14), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10).

India is one of the Contracting Parties to Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. India signed it on February 1, 1982. The Convention is 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.