Image used for representative purpose only. | Photo Credit: L. Balachandar
Two bird sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district — Sakkarakottai and Therthangal — have been designated as Ramsar sites. With this, the State has 20 Ramsar sites and continues to have the highest number of Ramsar sites in India. Uttar Pradesh follows with 10 sites.
The designation is granted under the Ramsar Convention aimed at protecting and wisely using wetlands through local conservation, national policies, and global cooperation. Wetlands covered under the treaty include inland ecosystems such as marshes, lakes, rivers, and peatlands, as well as coastal habitats such as saltmarshes, mangroves, mudflats, seagrass beds, and even coral reefs.
Ramanathapuram hosts two other Ramsar sanctuaries: Chitrangudi and Kanjirankulam.
The latest additions were announced by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on X, ahead of World Wetlands Day. “India has added four new Ramsar sites: Sakkarakottai, Therthangal, Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim), and Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand), bringing our total to 89,” the Minister said.
Tamil Nadu received its first Ramsar designation in 2002 for the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary. In 2024, the Kazhuveli and Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuaries were also recognised. The Ramsar status enhances conservation efforts, funding, and global recognition, and ensures better protection for these fragile ecosystems.
Published – February 01, 2025 05:09 am IST
