On October 16, 2020 Ramsar Convention declared Kabartal Wetland also known as Kanwar Jheel in Begusarai, Bihar as a site of international importance. Kabartal Wetland has been included in the ‘List of Wetlands of International Importance’ established by Article 2.1 of the convention.
- Kabartal Wetland is the 2436th site of Ramsar.
Note
After designating Asan Conservation Reserve(ACR), Dehradun, Uttarakhand and Kabartal Wetland, Begusarai, Bihar, as Ramsar sites, the total number of Ramsar Sites in India is 39, the highest in South Asia.
About Kabartal Wetland:
i.Kabartal Wetland covers 2,620 hectares of the Indo-Gangetic plains, in Begusarai district of Bihar.
ii.This site is one of 18 wetlands within an extensive floodplain complex.
iii.It acts as a vital flood buffer for the region and also provides livelihood opportunities to the local communities.
iv.It supports about 165 plant species, 394 animal species, including 221 bird species and around 50 fish species
v.It is an important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, with 58 migratory waterbirds using it as a wintering site.
vi.It is also inhabited by critically endangered species namely, the red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) and white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) among others
General Info
- The first Ramsar Site of the world was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974.
- The first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention was Chilika Lake, designated in 1981.
Recent Related News:
A 1st of its kind rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles is to be inaugurated in January 2020 in the Bhagalpur forest division of Bihar. This centre spread over half a hectare will be able to shelter 500 turtles at a time.
About Secretariat of The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:
Secretariat– Gland, Switzerland
Secretary General– Martha Rojas Urrego
