Context
- The International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands has declared Nandur Madhameshwar Wetland in Niphad tahsil of Nashik district as Ramsar wetland. This is the first wetland in the state and among the nine wetlands in India declared by the Convention as Ramsar sites on January 27, days ahead of International Wetlands Day on February 2.
About Nandur Madhameshwar Wetland
- Nandur Madhameshwar’s number in the list is 2410.
Source: Indian Express - Nandur Madhmeshwar wetland has been formed by shallow backwaters of Nandur Madhmeshwar dam and is known as Maharashtra ‘s Bharatpur.
- It lies in the 100 sq km Nandur Madhameshwar sanctuary formed in 1986.
- Nandur Madhameshwsr has measured up to the seven out of nine criteria set for recognition by the Ramsar Convention.
- These are “rare species and threatened ecological communities, biological diversity, support during critical lifecycle stage or in adverse conditions, more than 20,000 water birds, more than one percent water bird population of one species or sub-species of water birds, significant and representative fish and fish spawning ground.
- Nandur Madhameshwar boasts of threatened plants like Indian sandalwood, threatened birds like Indian Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Common Pochard, Bristled Grass Bird, Wooly-necked stork, White-rumped vulture, Indian vulture and Egyptian vulture, threatened fish Deolali Minnow and mammal like leopard.
- It has more than one percent population of Common Pochard, White Stork, Common Crane, Eurashian Spoonbill and Glosdy Ibis bird species. Among fish, the wetland has Butter cat fish, Deolali minnow, Slender rasbora, Novacula razorbelly minnow and globally threatened specie Shalini barb.
Also Read: Sur Sarovar Declared As 40th Ramsar Site of India
Key Fact
- India has 41 nos. of Ramsar Site as on 15.11.2020 after adding Lonar Lake to its list.
About Ramsar Convention
- Ramsar Convention is a contract among 90 countries aiming at conserving wetlands across the world. It was signed at Ramsar in Iran in 1971 and became operational in 1975.
Source: Indian Express
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