10 New Ramsar Sites

Why in news?

• India has added 10 more wetlands designated as Ramsar sites to make a total 64 sites.

About 10 New Ramsar Sites:

• Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary (Tamilnadu):
  • It is a man-made wetland. It is the largest reserve for breeding resident and migratory water birds in South India.
  • It is also an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area forming part of the Central Asian Flyway. 
• Satkosia Gorge (Odisha):
  • Satkosia spreads along the magnificent gorge over the mighty river Mahanadi in Odisha.
  • It was established in 1976 as a wildlife sanctuary.
  • Satkosia is also the meeting point of two biogeographic regions of India; the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats, contributing to immense biodiversity. 
• Nanda Lake (Goa):
  • The majority of the lake is intermittent freshwater marshes that lie adjacent to one of the major rivulets of the Zuari River.
  • This enables the locals to store the water during the off-monsoon season.
• Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu)
• Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (Karnataka)
• Vembannur Wetland Complex (Tamil Nadu):
  • It is a human-made inland tank. The tank is believed to have been constructed in the regime of Pandyan king Veeranarayana.
• Vellode Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu):
  • It is provincially known as Periyakulam Yeri. It forms part of the Central Asian Flyway.
• Sirpur Wetland (Madhya Pradesh):
• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu):
  • It is comprised of freshwater water and is also one of the oldest bird-protected areas. It belongs to the Coromandel Coast biotic province.
  • This site is also recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area(IBA).
• Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following pairs:

Wetland / Lake : Location

1. Nanda Lake – Goa

2. Satkosia Gorge - Odisha

3. Sirpur Wetland — Tamil Nadu

4. Vembannur Wetland – Karnataka

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) Only three pairs

(d) All four pairs

                        B

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