Ramsar Sites
The
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
The
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar
Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for
national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use
of wetlands and their resources.
The
Ramsar Convention is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a
particular ecosystem. The treaty was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in
1971 and the Convention's member countries cover all geographic regions of the
planet.
The Ramsar
mission
The
Convention's mission is "the conservation and wise use of all wetlands
through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a
contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world".
List of Wetlands of International Importance of J&K under Ramsar
Convention
1) Surinsar-Mansar Lakes
Date of Declaration: 08/11/05; Area:350 ha; Location: 32°45'N
075°12'E. Wildlife Sanctuary, Hindu sacred
site. Freshwater composite lake in semi-arid Panjab Plains, adjoining the
Jhelum Basin with catchment of sandy conglomeratic soil, boulders and pebbles.
Surinsar is rain-fed without permanent discharge, and Mansar is primarily fed
by surface run-off and partially by mineralised water through paddy fields,
with inflow increasing in rainy season. The lake supports CITES and IUCN
Redlisted Lissemys punctata, Aspideretes gangeticus, and Mansariella lacustris.
This composite lake is high in micro nutrients for which it is an attractive
habitat, breeding and nursery ground for migratory waterfowls like Fulica atra,
Gallinula chloropus, Podiceps nigricollis, Aythya fuligula, and various Anas
species. The site is socially and culturally very important with many temples
around owing to its mythical origin from the Mahabharata period. Although the
lakes support variety of fishes, fishing is discouraged for religious values.
The main threats are increasing visitors, agricultural runoff, bathing and
cremation rituals. Conservation is focused on awareness-raising. Ramsar site
no. 1573.
2) Hokersar
Date of Declaration: 08/11/05; Area: 1,375 ha; Location: 34°05'N
074°42'E. Located at the northwest Himalayan
biogeopgraphic province of Kashmir, back of the snow-draped Pir Panchal (1,584m
asl.), Hokera wetland is only 10 km from scenic paradise of Srinagar. A natural
perennial wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin, 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. It is an important source of food, spawning ground and nursery
for fishes, besides offering feeding and breeding ground to a variety of water
birds. Typical marshy vegetation complexes inhabit like Typha, Phragmites,
Eleocharis, Trapa, and Nymphoides species ranging from shallow water to open
water aquatic flora. Sustainable exploitation of fish, fodder and fuel is
significant, despite water withdrawals since 1999. Potential threats include
recent housing facilities, littered garbage, and demand for increasing tourist
facilities. Ramsar site no. 1570.
3) Wular Lake
Date of Declaration: 23/03/90; Area: 18,900 ha; Location: 34°16’N
074°33’E. The largest freshwater lake in India
with extensive marshes of emergent and floating vegetation, particularly water
chestnut, that provide an important source of revenue for the State Government
and fodder for domestic livestock. The lake supports an important fishing
industry and is a valuable source of water for irrigation and domestic use. The
area is important for wintering, staging and breeding birds. Human activities
include rice cultivation and tree farming. Ramsar site no. 461.
Ramsar site in UT of Ladakh
1 Tsomoriri
Date of Declaration: 19/08/02. Area: 12,000 ha. Location: 32°54'N
078°18'E. Wetland Reserve. A freshwater to
brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level, with wet meadows and borax-laden
wetlands along the shores. The site is said to represent the only breeding
ground outside of China for one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-necked
crane (Grus nigricollis), and the only breeding ground for Bar-headed geese in
India. The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) and Tibetan Wild
Ass (Equus kiang) are endemic to the Tibetan plateau, of which the Changthang
is the westernmost part.The barley fields at Korzok have been described as the
highest cultivated land in the world. With no outflow, evaporation in the arid
steppe conditions causes varying levels of salinity. Ancient trade routes and
now major trekking routes pass the site. The 400-year-old Korzok monastery
attracts many tourists, and the wetland is considered sacred by local Buddhist
communities and the water is not used by them. The local community dedicated
Tsomoriri as a WWF Sacred Gift for the Living Planet in recognition of
WWF-India's project work there. The rapidly growing attraction of the recently
opened area to western tourists (currently 2500 per summer) as an "unspoilt
destination" with pristine high desert landscapes and lively cultural
traditions brings great promise but also potential threats to the ecosystem.
Ramsar site no. 1213.
Data Source: Annual Administration Report 2011-12, J&K Forest Department