Sukhna wetland set to get global status
Centre gives nod to proposal to declare it Ramsar site
The Central Government has approved the proposal of the State Wetland Authority of Chandigarh to designate Sukhna wetland as a Ramsar site. It is now close to getting the international status.
A Ramsar site is a wetland site of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an Intergovernmental Treaty adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. The convention came into force in India on February 1, 1982.
According to officials, the proposal has already received clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and now been endorsed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The officials stated that procedural formalities were almost complete and a formal application would be sent to the Ramsar Secretariat next week. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will further take it up with the Ramsar Secretariat for granting the final recognition to the Sukhna wetland as per its guidelines.
The State Wetland Authority of Chandigarh had approved the proposal regarding designating Sukhna Wetland as a Ramsar site during its fourth meeting held under the chairmanship of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on September 19 last year.
Following the meeting, the UT Forests Department prepared a detailed proposal and forwarded it to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for approval.
After getting the final approval, this will be the first Ramsar site in Chandigarh. It will provide international recognition and elevate the Sukhna Wetland’s global profile highlighting its ecological and cultural importance.
The primary aim of the the Ramsar Convention is the conservation and wise use of wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation.
Over the past several decades, Sukhna Lake’s water level and area have been affected due to environmental pressure and human activities.
The Sukhna Wetland qualifies three of the nine Ramsar criteria, which is generally sufficient for getting this designation. The wetland supports vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.
Experts note that wetlands meeting three or four of the nine criteria are typically granted the Ramsar status.
The Sukhna wetland is spread over nearly 565 acres, with a catchment area of 10,395 acres. The lake was declared a national wetland by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1988, emphasising the need for its conservation. The Sukhna wildlife sanctuary came up in the catchment area.
Benefits of global recognition
Access to international funding and technical support
Strengthened ecological management
Protection of biodiversity and wildlife
Strict regulatory frameworks for conservation
Improved management of surrounding catchment areas
