Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh has been designated as a Ramsar site — making it India’s 99th Ramsar wetland. The freshwater monsoonal wetland is critical habitat for resident and migratory birds and represents India’s continued commitment to wetland conservation under international frameworks.
The Ramsar Convention — Basics
What Is the Ramsar Convention?
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (commonly called the Ramsar Convention) is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and entered into force in 1975.
Feature
Detail
Full name
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat
Signed
February 2, 1971 (Ramsar, Iran)
In force
December 21, 1975
Secretariat
Gland, Switzerland
World Wetlands Day
February 2 (anniversary of Ramsar signing)
Contracting parties
172 countries
Total Ramsar sites globally
2,400+
What Qualifies as a Ramsar Site?
A wetland qualifies if it meets any one of the nine Ramsar criteria, including:
Supports rare, vulnerable, or endangered species
Regularly supports 20,000+ waterbirds
Regularly supports 1%+ of the population of a waterbird species
Provides fish spawning grounds or nursery habitat
India’s Ramsar Journey
Year
Milestone
1971
Ramsar Convention signed
1982
India joined Ramsar as a contracting party
1981
First Indian Ramsar site: Chilika Lake (Odisha) + Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan)
2022
India added 19 new Ramsar sites in a single year (highest in one year)
2026
Shekha Jheel designated as India’s 99th Ramsar site
India’s Status:
Total Ramsar sites: 99
Total Ramsar area: ~13.26 lakh hectares
Countries with most Ramsar sites: UK (175+), Mexico (~142), Spain (~76), India (99)
States with Most Ramsar Sites
State
Number of Ramsar Sites
Tamil Nadu
20 (most in any state)
Uttar Pradesh
12
Jammu & Kashmir
9
Gujarat
7
Odisha
6
Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary
Parameter
Detail
Location
Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh
Type
Freshwater monsoonal wetland
Ecological significance
Habitat for migratory and resident waterbirds
Status
State-designated bird sanctuary
Wetland type
Seasonal freshwater lake (Ramsar type: inland surface water)
Significance of Shekha Jheel:
Located in the Gangetic Plain — a critical flyway for Central Asian migratory birds
Supports a variety of waterfowl including ducks, cranes, storks, and waders during winter months
Provides water recharge, flood regulation, and supports local agricultural communities
Wetlands — Why They Matter (UPSC Context)
Ecosystem Services of Wetlands
Service
Function
Carbon sink
Peatlands store 30% of Earth’s soil carbon despite covering only 3% of land
Flood regulation
Absorb excess water during monsoon; reduce downstream flooding
Water purification
Filter pollutants, sediments, and nutrients
Biodiversity
Support 40% of world’s species despite covering <1% of land
Climate regulation
Cooling effect; regulate local microclimates
Livelihood
Support fisheries, agriculture, and tourism
India’s Wetland Policy Framework
Instrument
Detail
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017
Replaced 2010 rules; prohibits reclamation, pollution, and construction in notified wetlands
National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP)
MoEFCC centrally-sponsored scheme for identified wetlands
National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA)
Merged NWCP and NLCP; conservation of lakes and wetlands
Ramsar sites designation
Provides international recognition; no additional legal protection under Indian law
Threats to Indian Wetlands
Encroachment and reclamation — for agriculture and real estate
Pollution — industrial, agricultural runoff, and sewage discharge
Invasive species — Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) choking water bodies
This content was researched and written in collaboration with Claude AI (Anthropic). Key facts are verified against web sources before publishing — but errors can occasionally slip through. If you spot something incorrect, our team wants to fix it immediately.
