Bihar Advances Wetland Conservation: Efforts to Expand Ramsar Sites and Establish Research Center

A review meeting regarding conservation and management of wetlands was held in Sanjay Auditorium, 4th floor of Aranya Bhawan, Patna under the chairmanship of Dr. Prem Kumar, Hon'ble Minister, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar. The meeting was attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFT) / Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden / Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Work Planning Training and Extension, Bihar / Director, Ecology and Environment, Bihar / Chief Conservator of Forests, Administration and Human Resources, Bihar / Chief Conservator of Forests, Joint Forest Management, Bihar / Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-State Nodal Officer, Environment, Climate Change and Wetlands, Bihar / Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Zone, Patna / Joint Secretary, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar on behalf of the Secretariat.

* Such wetland areas, which are important for biodiversity. Those important sites are declared as Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention so that they can be conserved and developed. After being declared a Ramsar site, financial support is received at national and international level for the conservation and development of the said site, in which the nearby villagers easily get livelihood / employment.

* Kambartal wetland under Begusarai Forest Division has been declared as a Ramsar site in the year 2020. In the year 2024, Nagi and Nakati bird sanctuaries located under Jamui Forest Division have also been declared as Ramsar sites. At present, a total of 03 wetlands in the state have been declared as Ramsar sites and a proposal to declare 03 other wetlands namely Udaipur Lake (Bettiah), Gogabeel (Purnia) and Gokul Reservoir (Bhojpur) as Ramsar sites has been sent to the Government of India after the recommendation of the Honorable Minister.

* As per the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, a brief document, health report card of 216 major wetlands located in different districts of the state has been prepared. The conservation and development work of the said wetlands is being done under the Central / State Scheme.

* 680 wetland friends have been created to conserve wetlands and bring public awareness around them and it has been decided to provide training at the state level to train them.

* The decision to establish Bihar State Wetland Research and Training Center has been taken by the Bihar State Wetland Authority.

* Integrated Management Plan of Gokul Reservoir has been approved, under which it is to be developed by 2027-28 at a cost of Rs 32.483 crore.

* Mobile App is being developed for groundtruthing of 4500 wetlands of the state. The Hon'ble Minister directed to prepare a proposal at the state level to declare 5 important wetlands of the state namely Sarotar Lake (Motihari), Narsan Chaur (Tirhut), Manika Man (Tirhut), Sunki Suiya Bhagar (Bhojpur) and Kadhio Chaur (Begusarai) as Ramsar sites. The Hon'ble Minister is making tireless efforts to declare the important wetlands of the state as Ramsar sites, so that the common people can get livelihood and employment.