5 newly designated Ramsar Sites

Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka

• A human-made village irrigation tank spread over 98.76 hectares, home to over 240 species of birds, including over 30,000 water birds that nest and roost there.
• It also supports more than 1% of the biogeographic population of Painted Stork and Black-headed Ibis.

Aghanashini Estuary, Karnataka

• Formed at the confluence of the Aghanashini River with the Arabian Sea, covering an area of 4801 hectares.
• It provides diverse ecosystem services, including flood and erosion risk mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood support.
• The estuary also supports over 43,000 waterbirds of over 66 species.

Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Karnataka

• A human-made wetland nearly 50 hectares in size, home to over 166 species of birds, of which 130 are migratory.
• It harbours two vulnerable species and four near-threatened species, and nearly 8,000 birds visit the site during winter.

Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu

• One of the largest inland wetlands in Tamil Nadu, covering an area of 453.72 hectares.
• It is a significant source of groundwater recharge for the area and provides water for agriculture.
• Karaivetti has one of the largest congregations of waterbirds in Tamil Nadu.

Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu

• Derives its name from the Tamil word for "tropical rainforest".
• Home to a variety of endemic bird species, including the globally endangered Black-chinned Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin, and vulnerable Nilgiri Wood-pigeon.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Wetlands are both vulnerable to and play a role in mitigating climate change. Discuss the specific challenges faced by different wetland types due to rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and sea-level rise. What are some innovative approaches being explored to protect and restore wetlands in the face of a changing climate?