RAMSAR SITES OF J&K UT

Ramsar Site

A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under Ramsar convention also known as 'The convention on Wetlands'.

Ramsar Convention

The Ramsar convention on wetland is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on Feb 2, 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. It came into force for India on Feb 1, 1982. It provides framework for national action and international cooperation for conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Number of contracting parties: 171
No of wetlands of international importance: 2,431

Ramsar Sites in India

In India there are 46 Ramsar sites as of 2021 data. Four newly added Ramsar sites include Thol and Wandhwana from Gujarat , and Sultanpur and Bhindawas from Haryana. With this the total surface area covered by Ramsar sites in India is 1,083,322 hectares.




Ramsar sites of UT of J&K


There are three wetlands designated as Ramsar sites in UT of J&K

1. Hokersar Wetland

The Hokersar is a wetland conservation area in Zainakote near Srinagar in the UT of J&K. It is situated in Jhelum river basin. It was designated as Ramsar site in the year 2005. 

Location :  Zainakote , Jammu and Kashmir, India
Area : 1,375 hectare
 


The Hokersar wetland consists of 3 zones with varied flora. The Northeast zone - containing dense macrophytes, central zone - is a large expanse of water which predominantly contains Trapa natans  and Phragmites australis,  southern zone - it is a silted portion and act as pasture land.
The  Hokersar Wetland is designated as bird sanctuary as it serves important staging ground for medium and long distance migratory birds.It is the only site with remaining reedbeds of kashmir and pathway of 68 waterfowl species like Large Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Little Cormorant , Common Shelduck, Tufted Duck and endangered White-eyed Pochard coming from Siberia, China Central Asia and Northern Europe.



2. Wular Lake

Wular Lake is one of the largest Fresh water lakes in Asia.
The lake is fed by Jhelum river. It is one of the 46 wetlands designated as ramsar site in India.

Location : Bandipora , J&K UT , India
Length : 16 km




 The lake is facing environmental threats like conversion of a large part of the lake's catchment area into agricultural land , pollution from fertilizers and animal wastes, hunting of waterfowl and migratory birds and weed infestation in the lake.
The lake supports important fishing industry and is home to the various fish species such as Cyprinus carpio, Barbus conchonius, Nemachelius, Shizothorax species etc.
The lake also sustains rich population of birds. Terrestrial birds observed around lake are - black-eared kite, Eurasian sparrowhawk, Himalayan golden eagle, common cuckoo, rock dove and many other birds.
Wular lake was designated as Ramsar site in the year 1990.

3. Surinsar - Mansar Lake

Surinsar Lake and Mansar lake are considered to be twin lakes.

Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India
Area : 350 hectare


    Surinsar Lake




  Mansar Lake



The Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is nestled in the midst of both the lakes.
Surinsar is rain-fed by  surface run-off and Mansar is  partially by mineralized water through paddy fields, increasing in rainy season. The lake supports CITES and IUCN Red listed Lissemys punctuata , Aspirderetes gangeticus , Mansariella lacustris. This composite lake is high in micronutrients therefore is a attractive breeding and nursing ground for migratory waterfowls like Fulia atra, Gallinula chloropus and various other species. 
It was declared as ramsar site in 2005.


Bibliography

The images are taken from the internet.
The information is taken from sites:
http://www.ramsar.org
https://en.m.wikipedia.org
http://www.wiienvis.nic.in



KAJAL RAJPUT
07-MSZ-20



     

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