The wetlands of Kabartal (Bihar) and Asan Conservation Reserve (Uttrakhand) have recently been recognized as Ramsar sites, positioning them as ‘Wetlands of International Importance’. With the addition of 10 more wetlands designated as Ramsar sites in 2020, India’s count escalated from 27 to 37. The inclusion of Kabartal and Asan Conservation Reserve takes this total to 39, making India the nation with the highest number of Ramsar sites in South Asia.
Kabartal Wetland: A Biodiversity Haven
Kabartal Wetland, also known as Kanwar Jheel, spans 2,620 hectares of the Indo-Gangetic plains in Bihar’s Begusarai district. This significant water body serves as a crucial flood buffer for the region, besides providing livelihood opportunities to local communities.
The wetland boasts of an impressive biodiversity, with records of 165 plant species and 394 animal species. Among the animals, 221 different bird species can be spotted, making it an important site along the Central Asian Flyway. With over 50 species of fish documented, the wetland is equally significant for fish biodiversity.
Five critically endangered species, including three vultures – red-headed vulture, white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture, and two waterbirds, the sociable lapwing and Baer’s pochard call this sanctuary their home. However, the ecosystem faces threats due to water management activities like drainage, water abstraction, damming, and canalization.
Asan Conservation Reserve: Uttrakhand’s First Ramsar Site
Asan Conservation Reserve (ACR) is a 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River running down to its confluence with the Yamuna River in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. This expanse has the distinction of being Uttarakhand’s first Ramsar Site.
Bird-friendly habitats emerged as a result of the damming of the River by the Asan Barrage in 1967, leading to siltation above the dam wall. These habitats play host to 330 bird species including the critically endangered red-headed vulture, white-rumped vulture and Baer’s pochard. The reserve is also home to 49 fish species, one of which is the endangered Putitora mahseer. Fish use the site for feeding, migration and spawning.
Ramsar Site: A Global Initiative for Wetland Conservation
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that was formed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This convention became functional for India on February 1, 1982, and works towards declaring wetlands of international importance as Ramsar sites. Its mission advocates the conservation and wise usage of all wetlands through local, national, and international actions to contribute to sustainable development globally.
The Montreux Record, maintained as part of the Ramsar List, registers those wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance which are witnessing changes in ecological character due to technological developments, pollution or other human interference. Currently, there are two Indian wetlands on the Montreux Record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur), while Chilika Lake in Odisha was formerly on the record but has been removed.