GLAW LAKE: 101ST RAMSAR SITE IN INDIA

Why in News?

• Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh has been designated as India's 101st Ramsar Site and the State's first Wetland of International Importance.
• With this addition, India's Ramsar network has expanded from 26 sites in 2014 to 101 sites in 2026.

KEY FACTS

• A pristine freshwater lake located within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas.

• The lake is fed by perennial mountain streams.
• It is surrounded by dense natural vegetation.

• The wetland and its catchment area support rich biodiversity, including:
  • More than 150 tree species
  • 49 orchid species
• It is recognised as an important biodiversity hotspot.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Ramsar designation will promote:
  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Climate resilience
  • Water conservation
  • Sustainable livelihoods of communities dependent on the wetland ecosystem.

RAMSAR CONVENTION

• The Ramsar Convention, officially known as the Convention on Wetlands, is an intergovernmental treaty adopted at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
• It provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• UNESCO serves as the depositary of the Convention.

INDIA & RAMSAR CONVENTION

• The Convention entered into force for India on 1 February 1982.
• Under the Convention, eligible wetlands can be designated for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List).

MONTREAUX RECORD

• The Montreux Record is a register of Ramsar Sites where:
  • Ecological changes have occurred,
  • Are occurring, or
  • Are likely to occur due to technological developments, pollution, or other human interference.
• It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

DESIGNATION CRITERIA

• A wetland can be designated as a Ramsar Site if it satisfies at least one of the nine criteria related to:
  • Ecology
  • Botany
  • Zoology
  • Limnology
  • Hydrology
  • Protection of threatened species and biodiversity.