UP's Shekha Jheel Joins Ramsar List; India Nears 100 Wetland Sites Milestone
Uttar Pradesh's Shekha Jheel (Shekha Lake) has been designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, taking India's tally of Ramsar sites close to the 100-site milestone. India is now among the top countries globally for the number of Ramsar sites. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. India has been systematically adding wetlands to the list as part of its commitment to biodiversity conservation and the Mission LiFE initiative.
Key Facts & Details
7 points- 1UP's Shekha Jheel added to Ramsar List; India nears 100 Ramsar sites milestone
- 2India is among top countries globally by number of Ramsar wetland sites
- 3Addition reflects India's commitment to wetland conservation under Mission LiFE
Deep Dive
- +The Ramsar Convention was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 — entered into force in 1975
- +Montreux Record is a register of Ramsar sites facing ecological threat
- +India's Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were India's first Ramsar sites (1981)
- +Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is India's nodal body for Ramsar
Exam Focus
Likely MCQ: Where was the Ramsar Convention signed? → Answer: Ramsar, Iran (1971)
Related Topics
Exam Relevance & Angle
Environment: Ramsar sites, wetland conservation, and India's biodiversity commitments.
Target Exams
Background & Context
The Ramsar Convention (full name: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat) was adopted on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran and entered into force in 1975. February 2 is celebrated as World Wetlands Day.
Key facts:
- Ramsar Secretariat is located in Gland, Switzerland
- India became a signatory in 1982
- India's first Ramsar sites (1981): Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
- India now has 75+ Ramsar sites (approaching 100)
Key Indian Ramsar Sites:
- Chilika Lake (Odisha) — largest coastal lagoon in Asia
- Wular Lake (J&K) — largest freshwater lake in India
- Loktak Lake (Manipur) — largest freshwater lake in NE India; home to floating phumdis
- Sundarbans (West Bengal) — mangrove delta; tiger reserve
- Kolleru Lake (Andhra Pradesh)
Montreux Record: Register of Ramsar sites where ecological character has changed, is changing, or is likely to change due to human interference. India has Keoladeo and Loktak Lake on this list.
India's wetlands cover about 4.7% of the country's area and support immense biodiversity.
Related GK Concepts
Must KnowTest Yourself
1 / 3The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed in which year?
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