Why in the news?

  • Two new wetlands- Siliserh Lake and Kopra Jalashay designated as Ramsar Sites.

Siliserh Lake

  • Location: Rajasthan
  • Features:
    • A human-made lake situated within the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve.
    • Lies in a semi-arid zone and serves as an important water source for diverse regional species
    • Supports more than 1% of the biogeographic population of Black Stork.

Kopra Jalashay

  • Location: Chhattisgarh
  • Features:
    • A reservoir in the upper catchments of the River Mahanadi.
    • Supports over 60 migratory bird species, functioning as a nesting, feeding, and stopover site.
Ramsar Sites in India:

  • India currently houses 96 Ramsar Sites.
  • First designated Ramsar Site was Chilika Lake in Odisha, recognised in 1981.
  • Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar Sites in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh.

Source: Times of India