Why in the news?

  • Gogabeel Lake became the 94th Ramsar site in India.

Gogabeel Lake

  • Location: It is a part of trans-Gangetic plains of land located in the state of Bihar.
  • Type of Lake: Oxbow lake, formed due to the meandering of the Ganga River and its tributaries.
  • Initial Protection:It has been declared as a Community Reserve (state’s first).
  • Ecological Significance
    • As a flood-plain wetland, the lake plays a hydrological role in linking with the rivers during monsoon/flood season, thereby acting as a buffer for flood control and groundwater recharge.
    • It hosts over 90 species of migratory birds.
  • Cultural Significance: Local cultural traditional festivals like Sirva, Adra , Chhat are observed in this wetland.
Ramsar Sites:

  • Ramsar sites are the wetlands of International importance, recognised under the Ramsar Convention- promoting conservation and sustainable use.
  • India became a party in the Ramsar Convention in 1982.
  • Currently there are 93 Ramsar sites in India, making it the top 3rd country in the world.
  • Tamil Nadu leads in India in terms of the number of Ramsar sites, followed by Uttar Pradesh