The Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh has been designated as India’s 101st Ramsar site, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on Monday.
Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an environmental treaty established in 1971.
In a post on X, Yadav said, “Delighted to announce Glaw Lake as Arunachal Pradesh’s first Ramsar Site — a significant milestone for biodiversity, water and climate security, and sustainable livelihoods.” The minister added that the pristine freshwater lake in the Eastern Himalayas is a biodiversity hotspot.
The lake is fed by perennial mountain streams and surrounded by lush vegetation, with more than 150 tree species and 49 orchid species recorded within the site and its catchment.
“Every new Ramsar Site strengthens our resolve to protect nature while securing the future of communities that depend on these invaluable ecosystems,” Yadav said.
The Ramsar Convention is one of the first modern treaties between nations for conserving natural resources.
It aims to stop the loss of wetlands globally and to conserve those that remain through wise use and management.
In designating a wetland as a Ramsar site, countries agree to establish and oversee a management framework to conserve the wetland. (PTI)
