Why In The News?

• Recently, the Nagi and Nakti Bird Sanctuaries of Bihar, have been recognised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

About the Nagi and Nakti Wetlands:

=> These man-made wetlands are located in the Jamui district of Bihar, nestled in the Jhajha forest range.

=> These are designated as bird sanctuaries in 1984 for their importance as wintering habitats for several migratory species.

=> Over 20,000 birds congregate here during the winter months, including one of the largest congregations of red-crested pochard (Netta rufina) on the Indo-Gangetic plain.

=> The Nagi Bird Sanctuary hosts one of the largest congregations of bar-headed geese (Anser Indicus) on the Indo-Gangetic plain.

=> The wetlands and their fringes provide habitat for over 75 bird species, 33 fish, and 12 aquatic plants, and support globally threatened species, including the endangered Indian elephant (Elephas Maximus Indicus) and a vulnerable native catfish (Wallago Attu).

Recognition under the Ramsar Convention :–

• The Ramsar Convention (adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar) is an international treaty aimed at conserving wetlands.
• It provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources across its 172-member countries including India.
• Currently, the highest number of such sites is in the UK (175) followed by Mexico (144).
• a. It places India joint third with China in terms of the number of such ‘Ramsar Sites’.
• b. With the inclusion of Nagi and Nakti Bird Sanctuaries, the total number of such wetlands in India has risen to 82.