Overview: Reinforcing its commitment to ecological conservation, India added two new wetlands to the prestigious Ramsar list in February 2026: Patna Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Chhari-Dhand Wetland in Gujarat. This elevates India’s total Ramsar tally to 98, highlighting massive strides in protecting vital biodiversity hotspots.
Key Points:
- The newly designated Ramsar sites are the Patna Bird Sanctuary (Etah, UP) and the Chhari-Dhand Wetland Reserve (Kutch, Gujarat).
- India’s Ramsar network has seen a staggering 276% expansion since 2014, growing from 26 sites to the current 98 sites.
- Chhari-Dhand is a seasonal saline wetland crucial for migratory waterfowl along the Central Asian Flyway and supports the critically endangered Sociable Lapwing.
- Patna Bird Sanctuary, despite being one of the smallest protected areas in UP, hosts over 3 lakh birds and acts as a vital freshwater marsh ecosystem.
- The Ramsar designation legally binds the state to implement site management plans ensuring “wise use” and sustainable community livelihoods.
Source Link: MoEFCC Official Portal
- MCQ: Match the following recently added Ramsar Sites with their respective states:
- Patna Bird Sanctuary – Bihar
- Chhari-Dhand Wetland – Gujarat
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
