Why in the news?

  • Gokul Jalashay and Udaipur Jheel, two wetlands from Bihar got designated as Ramsar Sites.

Gokul Jalashay

  • Location: Located in Buxar District
  • Features:
    • An oxbow lake situated along the southern margin of the Ganga River.
    • Serves as a natural flood cushion for adjoining villages and supports more than 50 species of birds.
    • Source of livelihood to local people through fishing, agriculture, and irrigation activities.
    • The catchment area is ritually cleaned by villagers every year during a community festival.

Udaipur Jheel

  • Location: Located in West Champaran District
  • Features:
    • An oxbow lake encircling a village
    • Supports around 280 plant species, notably Alysicarpus roxburghianus, an Indian endemic.
    • Serves as a key wintering habitat for 35 migratory bird species, including the vulnerable Common Pochard.
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

EnBUZZER – 01 OCTOBER 2025