Two new Ramsar sites
2020 OCT 27
Preliminary >
Environment and Ecology > Protected Area Networks > International conventions & protocols
Why in news?
- Two new Ramsar sites Kabartal Wetland and Asan Conservation Reserve has been created.
- With this India now has 39 wetlands under the RAMSAR convention
About Kabartal Wetland:
- Kabartal Wetland covers 2,620 hectares of the Indo-Gangetic plains in northern Bihar State.
- It is also known as Kanwar Jheel.
- The Site is one of 18 wetlands within an extensive floodplain complex; it floods during the monsoon season to a depth of 1.5 metres.
- During the dry season, areas of marshland dry out and are used for agriculture.
- Significant biodiversity is present, with 165 plant species and 394 animal species recorded, including 221 bird species.
- Five critically endangered species inhabit the site, including three vultures and two waterbirds
- The red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
- White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
- Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)
- the sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)
- Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
About Asan Conservation Reserve:
- The Asan Conservation Reserve is a 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River running down to its confluence with the Yamuna River in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand.
- The damming of the River by the Asan Barrage in 1967 resulted in siltation above the dam wall, which helped to create some of the Site’s bird-friendly habitats.
- These habitats support 330 species of birds including the critically endangered
- red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
- white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
- Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri).
- 49 fish species, one of these being the endangered Putitor mahseer is present at the site.
PRELIMS QUESTION
Which of the following RAMSAR sites are located in Uttar Pradesh:
1.Nandhur Madhameshwar
2.Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
3.Kanjili wetland
4.Saman Bird Sancturary
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 4 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1,3 and 4 only
Answer to prelims question