Glaw lake in Arunachal Pradesh gets 101st Ramsar site recognition

New Delhi:- Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav has announced the designation of Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh as India’s 101st Ramsar Site, making it the state’s first wetland to receive international recognition under the Ramsar Convention. The announcement marks another milestone in India’s expanding network of protected wetlands.

In a social media post, Mr. Yadav described the designation as a significant step towards strengthening biodiversity conservation, water and climate security, and sustainable livelihoods. He said Glaw Lake, located in the Eastern Himalayas within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, is a pristine high-altitude freshwater lake and a biodiversity hotspot.

The lake and its catchment support rich flora, including more than 150 species of trees and 49 species of orchids, besides providing habitat for several rare and endemic Himalayan plants and wildlife.

The Minister said the Ramsar recognition will help strengthen scientific management and conservation of the lake’s fragile ecosystem while promoting sustainable use of its natural resources.

Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty adopted in 1971 for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

Mr. Yadav said India has emerged as a global leader in wetland conservation, with the number of Ramsar Sites increasing from 26 in 2014 to 101 now. He said the rapid expansion reflects the Government’s commitment to protecting ecologically important wetlands, which play a vital role in groundwater recharge, flood control, carbon sequestration, water purification and the conservation of biodiversity.

He added that every new Ramsar Site strengthens the country’s resolve to protect nature while securing the livelihoods of communities that depend on these invaluable ecosystems.