Uttar Pradesh bird sanctuary designated as Ramsar site, 100th such Indian wetland

THe Jai Prakash Narayan birdwatch Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia, known for its rich avifaunistic biodiversity, was on fri designated as a Ramsar land site, or a wetland of international grandness, making it the 100th such site in India.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the feat, coinciding with World Environment Day, reflects India’s unwavering commitment to protecting natural surroundings and wetlands. “Glad that the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, has been designated as India’s 100th Ramsar site. This wetland is rich in avifaunal biodiversity, attracting several migratory and resident birds,” he said in a post on X.Modi said efforts to conserve and rejuvenate wetlands have been strengthened through greater community participation, science, innovation, and awareness initiatives. “These endeavours are helping preserve biodiversity, secure ecological balance, and create a greener future for coming generations,” he wrote.India is one of the parties to the 1971 Ramsar Convention, framed in Iran’s Ramsar. Parties are expected to identify and place suitable wetlands onto the List of Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar List, under the Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation of wetlands.The convention has mechanisms guiding the designation of the significant wetlands as Ramsar sites and steps to manage them effectively by maintaining their ecological character.Separately, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav and chief minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated 18 “Namo Oxygen Parks” across Delhi as part of an initiative to combat air pollution and expand the city’s green cover.Yadav and Gupta launched a series of environmental initiatives under the nationwide tree plantation “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign on the occasion of World Environment Day. This was done as part of efforts to strengthen urban greening, improve air quality, and promote community-led environmental stewardship in the National Capital Territory (NCT), the environment ministry said.Yadav and Gupta released a Working Plan Document for the NCT (2026–27 to 2036–37), a 10-year framework outlining strategies and targets for environmental governance, conservation, and sustainable development in Delhi. They unveiled a management plan for Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (2024–25 to 2034–35), a management blueprint for one of Delhi’s most critical biodiversity reserves, a roadmap for its protection, restoration, and sustainable management over the next decade.The two released the Delhi Bird Atlas, a compilation of data on Delhi’s avifauna, produced through a citizen-science effort involving birdwatchers, naturalists, and volunteers across the city.