Ramsar Wetlands — Conservation Stories

What Makes a Ramsar Site?

The Ramsar Convention (1971, Ramsar, Iran) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. India became a signatory in 1982. A wetland qualifies for Ramsar designation if it meets at least one of nine criteria, including:

• Supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species
• Regularly supports 20,000+ waterbirds
• Is an important source of food, spawning ground, or nursery for fish
• Supports 1% or more of a biogeographic population of a waterbird species

UP has 10 Ramsar sites (as of 2025) — one of the highest counts among Indian states. This reflects the Gangetic plain’s extraordinary network of lakes, marshes, and floodplain wetlands.

Exam Tip: The total number of Ramsar sites in UP changes as new sites are added. Always check the latest count, but remember the core sites below.

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1. Nawabganj Jheel (Unnao)

Nawabganj is a natural ox-bow lake fed by monsoon rainfall. Its proximity to Lucknow makes it the most accessible birding destination in central UP.

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2. Parvati Aranga (Gonda)

Parvati Aranga functions as a natural floodwater retention basin — it absorbs excess monsoon flow from the Ghaghra, reducing downstream flooding while sustaining a rich fishery that supports local livelihoods.

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3. Saman Bird Sanctuary (Mainpuri)

Exam Tip: Saman (Mainpuri) and Sarsai Nawar (Etawah) are the two most critical Sarus crane breeding wetlands in UP. They are often confused — remember: Saman = Mainpuri, Sarsai Nawar = Etawah.

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4. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary (Rae Bareli)

Samaspur receives significant numbers of wintering waterfowl from November to February. The lake and its marshy periphery provide both foraging and roosting habitat.

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5. Sandi Bird Sanctuary (Hardoi)

Sandi is unique because it is a man-made reservoir (constructed during British rule for irrigation) that has evolved into a thriving wetland ecosystem. It demonstrates how artificial water bodies can develop significant ecological value over time.

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6. Sarsai Nawar (Etawah)

Sarsai Nawar, despite its small size, is arguably the single most important wetland for Sarus crane reproduction in India. The Etawah-Mainpuri landscape supports the world’s densest Sarus crane population.

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7. Upper Ganga River (Bijnor-Haridwar Stretch)

This is the oldest Ramsar site in UP (2005). The stretch between Bijnor barrage and Haridwar retains relatively clean water before the Ganga enters the heavily polluted middle segment.

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8. Sur Sarovar / Keetham Lake (Agra)

Sur Sarovar lies along the Agra-Delhi highway and combines wildlife value with tourism potential. The adjacent bear rescue facility rehabilitates sloth bears freed from the “dancing bear” trade.

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9. Bakhira Tal (Sant Kabir Nagar)

Bakhira Tal’s sheer size — nearly 30 sq km — makes it a regionally significant stopover and wintering site. Its designation as a Ramsar site was a major conservation achievement for eastern UP.

Exam Tip: Bakhira Tal = largest natural freshwater lake in UP. Do not confuse with man-made reservoirs. Located in Sant Kabir Nagar.

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Conservation Challenges

Despite Ramsar designation, UP’s wetlands face serious threats:

The National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) — which merged the earlier National Lake Conservation Plan and National Wetland Conservation Programme — provides central funding for Ramsar site management.

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Complete Ramsar Sites Reference Table

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Key Takeaways

• UP has 10 Ramsar sites — among the highest in India
• Upper Ganga (2005) was the first Ramsar site in UP
• Bakhira Tal is the largest natural freshwater lake in UP (~29 sq km)
• Saman and Sarsai Nawar are critical Sarus crane breeding wetlands
• Water hyacinth invasion is the biggest ecological threat to UP wetlands
• Ramsar Convention (1971) — India signed in 1982

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Summary Cheat Sheet