Reference:

• Jay Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Suraha Tal), located in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, has been declared the 100th Ramsar Site of India.

Jay Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Suraha Tal):

• Location: It is situated in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, near Bansdih Tehsil.
• River Basin: It lies in the middle region of the Ganga River Basin.
• Origin: It is a natural, perennial freshwater oxbow lake formed due to the separation of a meander from the main channel of the Ganga River.
• Water Source: It receives a continuous supply of freshwater through three major aquatic channels.
• Area: It covers approximately 3,432.93 hectares (about 34.32 sq. km).
• Establishment: In 1991, the Government of Uttar Pradesh declared it a Bird Sanctuary under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Renaming: In 2002, its official name was changed to Jay Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary in honor of the renowned freedom fighter and politician. However, it is still popularly known locally as Suraha Tal.
• Central Asian Flyway (CAF): This wetland serves as a highly important wintering and breeding habitat for both migratory and resident birds along the Central Asian Flyway. Even during summers, when smaller water bodies dry up, it provides a safe refuge for waterbirds.
• Flora: Around 221 plant species are found here. The surrounding landscape includes floodplains, seasonal marshes, and paddy fields.
• Birds: Rare bird species such as the Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) (Vulnerable) and the Indian River Tern (Sterna aurantia) are found here.
• Aquatic Fauna: The wetland supports 66 species of fish, including Wallago attu and Bagarius bagarius.
• Other Fauna: Owing to the abundance of fish, the endangered Fishing Cat also visits the sanctuary in search of food.

Ramsar Site:

• Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance that are identified for conservation. They are named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Ramsar Convention was signed.

Ramsar Convention:

• Signed: 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran (World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February).
• Came into Force: 1975.
• The List of Ramsar Sites is maintained by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention, located at the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland.
• India became a party to the Convention in 1982.
• First Indian Ramsar Sites: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Chilika Lake (Odisha) in 1981.
• Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar Sites (20), followed by Uttar Pradesh (13).
• Largest Ramsar Site in India: Sundarbans, West Bengal.
• Smallest Ramsar Site in India: Renuka, Himachal Pradesh.
• 99th Ramsar Site: Shekha Lake Bird Sanctuary, Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh).
• Global Ranking: India now ranks 3rd in the world after the UK (176) and Mexico (144), and 1st in Asia in terms of the number of Ramsar Sites.

What are Wetlands?

• Wetlands are areas that remain permanently or seasonally covered with water. They include rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, and coastal areas.

Types:

1. Freshwater Wetlands
2. Saltwater Wetlands
3. Artificial (Human-made) Wetlands

Importance:

• Water conservation and groundwater recharge.
• Flood control and protection of coastal areas.
• Conservation of biodiversity.
• Source of livelihood for local communities.

National Initiatives:

• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA).
• Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme – Launched: June 2023.
• National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) – 1985.

List of Ramsar Sites in India:

1. Gokul Reservoir – Bihar – September 2025 – 4.48 sq. km
2. Udaipur Lake – Bihar – September 2025 – 3.19 sq. km
3. Khichan – Rajasthan – June 2025 – 2.92 sq. km
4. Menar – Rajasthan – June 2025 – 2828 sq. km
5. Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – February 2025 – 2.3949 sq. km
6. Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (TBS) – Tamil Nadu – February 2025 – 0.293 sq. km
7. Khecheopalri Lake – Sikkim – February 2025 – 0.0379 sq. km
8. Udhwa Lake – Jharkhand – February 2025 – 5.65 sq. km
9. Tawa Reservoir – Madhya Pradesh – August 2024 – 200.5 sq. km
10. Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – August 2024 – 51.51 sq. km
11. Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – August 2024 – 1.25 sq. km
12. Nakti Bird Sanctuary – Bihar – June 2024 – 3.326 sq. km
13. Nagi Bird Sanctuary – Bihar – June 2024 – 2.1 sq. km
14. Karavetti Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – January 2024 – 4.53 sq. km
15. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest – Tamil Nadu – January 2024 – 1.16 sq. km
16. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve – Karnataka – January 2024 – 0.5 sq. km
17. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve – Karnataka – January 2024 – 0.99 sq. km
18. Aghanashini Estuary – Karnataka – January 2024 – 48.01 sq. km
19. Tampara Lake – Odisha – August 2022 – 3 sq. km
20. Hirakud Reservoir – Odisha – August 2022 – 654 sq. km
21. Ansupa Lake – Odisha – August 2022 – 2.31 sq. km
22. Yashwant Sagar – Madhya Pradesh – August 2022 – 8.229 sq. km
23. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – August 2022 – 2.6047 sq. km
24. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex – Tamil Nadu – August 2022 – 0.9423 sq. km
25. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – August 2022 – 1.1264 sq. km
26. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – August 2022 – 0.9689 sq. km
27. Thane Creek – Maharashtra – August 2022 – 65.2108 sq. km
28. Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve – Jammu & Kashmir – August 2022 – 8.0182 sq. km
29. Shallabugh Wetland Conservation Reserve – Jammu & Kashmir – August 2022 – 16.75 sq. km
30. Nanda Lake – Goa – June 2022 – 0.42 sq. km
31. Karikili Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – April 2022 – 0.58 sq. km
32. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest – Tamil Nadu – April 2022 – 12.48 sq. km
33. Pichavaram Mangrove Forest – Tamil Nadu – April 2022 – 14.79 sq. km
34. Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve – Tamil Nadu – April 2022 – 527 sq. km
35. Vembannur Wetland Complex – Tamil Nadu – April 2022 – 0.2 sq. km
36. Vellode Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – April 2022 – 0.77 sq. km
37. Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – April 2022 – 0.44 sq. km
38. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – April 2022 – 0.4 sq. km
39. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary – Karnataka – February 2022 – 5.18 sq. km
40. Sakhya Sagar – Madhya Pradesh – January 2022 – 2.48 sq. km
41. Sirpur Wetland – Madhya Pradesh – January 2022 – 1.61 sq. km
42. Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – November 2021 – 0.72 sq. km
43. Satkosia Gorge – Odisha – October 2021 – 982 sq. km
44. Pala Wetland – Mizoram – August 2021 – 18.5 sq. km
45. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh – June 2021 – 28.94 sq. km
46. Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary – Haryana – 25 May 2021 – 4.11 sq. km
47. Sultanpur National Park – Haryana – 25 May 2021 – 1.43 sq. km
48. Haiderpur Wetland – Uttar Pradesh – April 2021 – 69.08 sq. km
49. Wadhvana Wetland – Gujarat – April 2021 – 6.3 sq. km
50. Thol Lake – Gujarat – April 2021 – 6.99 sq. km
51. Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary – Gujarat – April 2021 – 5.12 sq. km
52. Tso Kar Wetland Complex – Union Territory of Ladakh – November 2020 – 95.77 sq. km
53. Sur Sarovar – Uttar Pradesh – August 2020 – 4.31 sq. km
54. Asan Conservation Reserve – Uttarakhand – July 2020 – 4.44 sq. km
55. Kabartal Wetland – Bihar – July 2020 – 26.2 sq. km
56. Lonar Lake – Maharashtra – July 2020 – 4.27 sq. km
57. Saman Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh – December 2019 – 52.63 sq. km
58. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh – December 2019 – 7.22 sq. km
59. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh – October 2019 – 79.94 sq. km
60. Beas Conservation Reserve – Punjab – September 2019 – 64.289 sq. km
61. Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve – Punjab – September 2019 – 3.439 sq. km
62. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary – Punjab – September 2019 – 1.16 sq. km
63. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh – September 2019 – 2.246 sq. km
64. Sandi Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh – September 2019 – 30.85 sq. km
65. Sarsai Nawar Lake – Uttar Pradesh – September 2019 – 16.13 sq. km
66. Nandur Madhameshwar – Maharashtra – June 2019 – 14.37 sq. km
67. Sundarban Wetland – West Bengal – January 2019 – 4230 sq. km
68. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary – Gujarat – September 2012 – 120 sq. km
69. Upper Ganga River – Uttar Pradesh – November 2005 – 265.9 sq. km
70. Chandra Taal Wetland – Himachal Pradesh – November 2005 – 0.49 sq. km
71. Hokera Wetland – Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir – November 2005 – 13.75 sq. km
72. Renuka Wetland – Himachal Pradesh – November 2005 – 0.2 sq. km
73. Rudrasagar Lake – Tripura – November 2005 – 2.4 sq. km
74. Surinsar–Mansar Lakes – Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir – November 2005 – 3.5 sq. km
75. Ashtamudi Wetland – Kerala – August 2002 – 614 sq. km
76. Bhitarkanika Mangroves – Odisha – August 2002 – 650 sq. km
77. Bhoj Wetland – Madhya Pradesh – August 2002 – 32.01 sq. km
78. Deepor Beel – Assam – August 2002 – 40 sq. km
79. East Kolkata Wetlands – West Bengal – August 2002 – 125 sq. km
80. Kanjli Wetland – Punjab – January 2002 – 1.83 sq. km
81. Kolleru Lake – Andhra Pradesh – August 2002 – 901 sq. km
82. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – August 2002 – 385 sq. km
83. Pong Dam Lake – Himachal Pradesh – August 2002 – 156.62 sq. km
84. Ropar Wetland – Punjab – January 2002 – 13.65 sq. km
85. Tsomoriri – Union Territory of Ladakh – August 2002 – 120 sq. km
86. Vembanad-Kol Wetland – Kerala – August 2002 – 1512.5 sq. km
87. Sasthamkotta Lake – Kerala – August 2002 – 3.73 sq. km
88. Wular Lake – Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir – March 1990 – 189 sq. km
89. Harike Wetland – Punjab – March 1990 – 41 sq. km
90. Loktak Lake – Manipur – March 1990 – 266 sq. km
91. Sambhar Lake – Rajasthan – March 1990 – 240 sq. km
92. Chilika Lake – Odisha – October 1981 – 1165 sq. km
93. Keoladeo National Park – Rajasthan – October 1981 – 28.73 sq. km
94. Gogabeel Lake – Bihar (Katihar Region) – November 2025 – 0.8663 sq. km
95. Siliserh Lake – Alwar, Rajasthan – December 2025 – 7 sq. km
96. Kopra Reservoir – Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh – December 2025 – 7 sq. km
97. Patna Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh (Etah District) – February 2026 – 1.09 sq. km
98. Chhari-Dhand Wetland – Gujarat (Kutch District) – February 2026 – 227 sq. km
99. Shekha Lake Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh – April 2026
100. Jay Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Suraha Tal) – Uttar Pradesh (Ballia District) – Declared as India's 100th Ramsar Site.