Two New Ramsar Sites in Bihar Take India to 93
Why in the news
Two more Bihar wetlands were named Ramsar sites, taking India to 93 wetlands of international importance and keeping it first in Asia.
Key facts
- India’s growth: 26 sites in 2012 to 93 now; 51 added since 2020.
- Bihar: now has 5 Ramsar sites.
| Feature | Gokul Jalashay | Udaipur Jheel |
|---|---|---|
| District | Buxar | West Champaran |
| Area | 448 ha | 319 ha |
| Type | Oxbow lake near the Ganga | Oxbow lake around a village |
| Notable | Flood buffer; 50+ bird species; yearly community cleaning rituals | 280+ plant species incl. endemic Alysicarpus roxburghianus; 35+ wintering migratory birds incl. vulnerable Common Pochard |
About Ramsar sites
- Wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention (1971), signed in Ramsar, Iran; in force from 1975, under UNESCO.
- Aim: conservation and sustainable use, with a framework for national action and international cooperation.
Exam angle
- New sites: Gokul Jalashay and Udaipur Jheel; India’s count 93; Bihar’s 5.