Protected Areas of India

Nagi and Nakti Bird Sanctuary notified as new Ramsar Sites from India

Context: On the eve of World Environment Day, two more wetlands from India - (i) Nagi Bird Sanctuary & (ii) Nakti Bird Sanctuary have been notified as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Both the Ramsar Sites are manmade reservoirs located in Jhajha forest range of Jamui district in Bihar.

India with third largest number of Ramsar Sites

Currently, United Kingdom (UK) has most number of Ramsar Sites in the world with 175 Ramsar sites followed by Mexico with 144 sites.
These two Ramsar Sites in India takes the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 82, equal to that of China. India and China have the third largest number of Ramsar Sites at 82 sites each.

Nagi Bird Sanctuary, Bihar

This is a man-made wetland formed after the construction of Nagi Dam on the Nagi River.
Located in Jamui District of Bihar.
The site was recognised as bird species in 1984.
The Dam and the resulting wetland provides habitat to over 150 species of birds, mammals, fish, aquatic plants and reptiles and amphibians and also acts as wintering habitat for several migratory species.
Important species: Indian Elephant (IUCN status: Endangered), Native Catfish (IUCN Status: Vulnerable) and largest congregations of red-crested pochard on the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Nakti Bird Sanctuary, Bihar

This is a man-made wetland formed after the construction of Nakti Dam on the Nakti River.
Located in Jamui District of Bihar.
The site was recognised as bird species in 1984 and also designated as Important Bird and Biodiversity Area by Birdlife International.
Important species: Baer's pochard (IUCN Status: Critical Endangered) and Steppe Eagle (IUCN Status: Endangered) and also hosts the largest congregations of bar-headed goose on the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Note: Nakti River is a tributary of Koel River.

3 States chip in to stop illegal sand mining in Chambal sanctuary Conservation

Context: Three States have commenced joint action to stop illegal sand mining in National Chambal Sanctaury.

About National Chambal Sanctuary

National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary.

It is located on the Chambal River near the tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
It was first declared in Madhya Pradesh in 1978, and now constitutes a long narrow eco-reserve co-administered by the three states.
It is listed as an important bird area (IBA) and is a proposed Ramsar site.
Fauna: It is a protected area for the protection of the Critically Endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle and the Endangered Ganges river dolphin. Other large threatened inhabitants of the sanctuary include mugger crocodile, smooth-coated otter, striped hyena and Indian wolf. Chambal supports 8 of the 26 rare turtle species found in India, including Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle, three-striped roof turtle and crowned river turtle.
Flora: Common plants in the sanctuary include khair, palash, Indian elm tree, Indian plum etc. It is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.

About Chambal River

It rises in the Vindhya Range just south of Mhow, western Madhya Pradesh state.
It is a second biggest tributary of the Yamuna River in Central and Northern India, and thus forms part of the drainage system of the Ganges.
The river flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It also forms part of the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh boundary.
The main tributaries of Chambal include the Banas and Mej rivers on the left and the Parbati, Kali Sindh and Shipra rivers on the right.
The Chambal’s lower course is lined by belt of badland gullies resulting from accelerated soil erosion.