Haiderpur Wetland, the human-made wetland of around 6908 hectares in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh(UP) has been recognised as the 47th Ramsar Site of India and 2,463rd site internationally. The wetland is located within the boundaries of Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh.
About Haiderpur Wetland:
i.Haiderpur Wetland, a human-made wetland formed in 1984 by the construction of the Madhya Ganga Barrage on a floodplain of the River Ganga.
ii.This provides habitat for various animals and plant species including around 30 species of plants, 300 species of birds (102 water birds), 40 fish and more than 10 mammals.
iii.This also supports more than 15 globally threatened species like
- critically endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
- endangered hog deer (Axis porcinus), blackbellied tern (Sterna acuticauda), steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) and gold mahseer (Tor putitora)
iv.This site is also used for recreation and tourism, and scientific and educational activities.
About RAMSAR Convetion:
i.The Convention on Wetlands (RAMSAR Convention) is the oldest of the modern global intergovernmental environmental agreements that unite 172 countries to protect and use wisely the wetlands and the resources they provide.
ii.The convention was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
iii.This provides the single most global framework for intergovernmental cooperation on wetland issues.
iv.The convention works with BirdLife International, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Wetlands International, WWF International, and Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).
Wetlands of International Importance: (RAMSAR Sites)
At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party must designate at least one wetland site within their territory for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List).
Significance of Wetlands:
Wetlands, also known as the Kidneys of the Earth, plays a major role in ecosystems, climate, as well as providing essential services such as water regulation, flood control, and water purification.
According to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands report, wetlands disappears 3 times faster than the forests with 35% of wetlands lost from 1970-2015.
India:
The convention entered into force in India on 1 February 1982.
At present India has 47 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of 1,090,230 hectares.
Note:
- Chilika Lake (1981) of Odisha was the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Ramsar site number 229.
- Keoladeo National Park of Rajasthan (1981) was the 2nd. Ramsar site number 230.
Other RAMSAR Sites in UP:
- Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
- Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary
- Saman Bird Sanctuary
- Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
- Sandi Bird Sanctuary
- Sarsai Nawar Jheel
- Sur Sarovar
- Upper Ganga River
Recent Related News:
In August 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the addition of 4 more wetlands from India, 2 each from Gujarat and Haryana in ‘The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance/ Ramsar Convention.
Ramsar sites that are included: Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat; Wadhvana Wetland, Gujarat; Sultanpur National Park, Gurgaon, Haryana; and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, Jhajjar, Haryana
About Convention on Wetlands:
Secretary General– Martha Rojas Urrego
Headquarters– Gland, Switzerland
