3rd February 2025 (12 Topics)
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Sakkarakottai and Therthangal Bird Sanctuaries
Context
Tamil Nadu has added two more Ramsar sites: Sakkarakottai and Therthangal bird sanctuaries. This brings the state’s total number of Ramsar sites to 20, the highest in India. Uttar Pradesh follows with 10 Ramsar sites.
What is a Ramsar Site?
- The Ramsar Convention, signed in 1971, aims to protect wetlands worldwide through local conservation efforts, national policies, and international cooperation.
- Wetlands included under the treaty encompass a wide range of ecosystems, from marshes, lakes, rivers, and peatlands, to coastal habitats such as mangroves, saltmarshes, mudflats, seagrass beds, and even coral reefs.
- Importance of Ramsar Status: The Ramsar status provides enhanced conservation efforts and global recognition for these crucial ecosystems. It opens the door for increased funding and ensures better protection for these fragile areas.
- Tamil Nadu’s Wetland Conservation Efforts
- The newly designated Sakkarakottai and Therthangal bird sanctuaries are located in Ramanathapuram district, which already hosts two other Ramsar sites: Chitrangudi and Kanjirankulam.
- Tamil Nadu has been at the forefront of wetland conservation in India, with its first Ramsar designation granted in 2002 for the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary.
- Other sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu that have received Ramsar recognition include Kazhuveli and Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuaries, which were added in 2024.
- Alongside the Tamil Nadu sites, India has recently added four new Ramsar sites in total, bringing the country’s total Ramsar sites to 89:
- Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim)
- Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand)
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