India Adds Three More Wetlands to Ramsar List, Totaling 85 Sites

India has added three new sites to the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance, bringing the total to 85. The newly recognized sites are the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.

In a significant boost to India's environmental conservation efforts, three more Indian sites have been added to the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. This brings the total number of Ramsar-recognized waterlogged ecosystems in the country to 85, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on Wednesday.

The newly recognized sites are the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh. These additions highlight the significant government push towards environmental conservation, which has seen the number of Ramsar sites in India surge from 26 to 85 over the past decade, with 41 added in the last three years alone.

Speaking on the occasion, Yadav emphasized the importance of wetlands to biodiversity and human life, reflecting on the Prime Minister's dedication to environmental conservation. The Ramsar Convention aims to establish a global network of wetlands crucial for conserving biological diversity and sustaining human life.

(With inputs from agencies.)