Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel Added to Ramsar List

Why in News?

India’s total number of Ramsar Sites increased to 103 on 15 October 2026 following the designation of Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh as Wetlands of International Importance. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the new designations.

Sukhna Wetland has been assigned Ramsar Site No. 2602, while Sauj Jheel is listed as Site No. 2603. The additions highlight the ecological importance of urban wetlands, freshwater lakes and floodplain ecosystems in conserving biodiversity and supporting migratory birds.

What Is the Ramsar Convention?

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty dedicated to the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It was adopted on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and came into force in 1975. The treaty encourages countries to identify and designate wetlands of international importance, maintain their ecological character and promote their sustainable use. India became a party to the convention in 1982.

Wetlands designated under the treaty are included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance, commonly known as the Ramsar List. Wetlands include natural and artificial ecosystems such as lakes, marshes, rivers, reservoirs and shallow water bodies. They provide habitats for wildlife, help regulate floods, support groundwater recharge and contribute to carbon storage and local livelihoods.

Learn all about Ramsar Convention Here

Sukhna Wetland: Chandigarh’s First Ramsar Site

Sukhna Wetland in Chadigarh is the 102nd Ramsar Site in India. It is a peri-urban reservoir located at the foothills of the Outer Himalayas in Chandigarh. Its designation as a Ramsar Site makes it the Union Territory’s first site under the convention.

The wetland supports resident and migratory birds and provides an important habitat within an urban landscape. Species associated with the site include the vulnerable common pochard, the endangered Pallas’s fish eagle and the black pond turtle.

Its international recognition highlights the importance of protecting wetlands located near expanding cities, where development, pollution and changes in water availability can threaten ecological functions.

Sauj Jheel: Uttar Pradesh’s New Ramsar Site

Sauj Jeel is the 103rd Ramsar Site in India and 14th Ramsar Site in Uttar Pradesh. Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary was the 13th Ramsar Site of Uttar Pradesh and 100th Ramsar site of India. Sauj Jheel is a shallow lake surrounded by agricultural land in the Ganga River floodplain in Mainpuri district, Uttar Pradesh. It supports a diversity of waterbirds and forms part of a wider ecological network that includes the nearby Saman Bird Sanctuary.

With its designation, Sauj Jheel becomes Mainpuri district’s second Ramsar Site, alongside Saman Bird Sanctuary. According to the supplied report, Mainpuri is the only district in Uttar Pradesh with two Ramsar Sites. The recognition draws attention to the ecological value of smaller lakes and floodplain wetlands, which provide feeding and breeding habitats for birds while supporting local hydrological processes.

Related Ramsar Site in UP: 100th Ramsar Site-Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary

Ecological Significance of Ramsar Sites

Ramsar designation helps raise the international profile of wetlands and encourages their long-term conservation. Their ecological importance extends across several dimensions:

• Biodiversity conservation: Wetlands provide habitats for birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and aquatic plants.
• Flood regulation: They can temporarily store excess water and reduce flood peaks in some landscapes.
• Water security: Wetlands can contribute to groundwater recharge and help maintain local water systems.
• Climate regulation: Wetland soils and vegetation can store carbon, depending on the ecosystem type.
• Livelihoods: Many communities depend on wetlands for fisheries, agriculture, tourism and other resources.

However, Ramsar designation alone does not guarantee effective conservation. Long-term protection requires pollution control, sustainable water management, habitat restoration and community participation.

Important Facts for Exams

Explore all 103 Ramsar Sites in India Here

• Total Ramsar Sites in India: 103, as reported on 15 October 2026.
• Newly designated sites: Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel.
• Sukhna Wetland: Chandigarh; Ramsar Site No. 2602.
• Sauj Jheel: Mainpuri district, Uttar Pradesh; Ramsar Site No. 2603.
• Sukhna Wetland’s significance: Chandigarh’s first Ramsar Site.
• Mainpuri district: Home to Sauj Jheel and Saman Bird Sanctuary.
• Ramsar Convention adopted: 2 February 1971, Ramsar, Iran.
• Convention entered into force: 1975.
• India became a party: 1982.
• Core principle: Conservation and wise use of wetlands.

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