Which places of Haryana have been notified as Ramsar sites under the Ramsar…
2022
Which places of Haryana have been notified as Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention?
- A.
Sultanpur National Park & Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
- B.
Kalesar National Park & Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary
- C.
Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary & Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary
- D.
Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary & Bir Bara Ban Conservation Reserve
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
The Ramsar Convention (1971) is an international treaty for the conservation of wetlands of global ecological importance. A site is formally recognised as a "Wetland of International Importance" only after it is designated and notified by the national Ramsar Administrative Authority (in India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change).
In Haryana, Sultanpur National Park (Gurugram) and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary (Jhajjar) were notified as Ramsar sites on 25 May 2021 - the first two wetlands from the state to receive this designation. Both sites are wetland habitats that draw large numbers of migratory birds every winter.
Kalesar National Park & Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary are real protected areas in Haryana - Khaparwas is itself a wetland habitat on the same Sahibi-river corridor as Bhindawas, but neither member of this pair has been formally notified as a Ramsar site.
Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary & Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary are notified wildlife sanctuaries, but they are grassland or forest habitats, not on the Ramsar list.
Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary & Bir Bara Ban Conservation Reserve are also Haryana protected areas - Chhilchhila too is a wetland habitat, but neither member of this pair has Ramsar designation.
So among the given options, only Sultanpur National Park and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary hold Ramsar designation.