Central Idea

The National Green Tribunal has given the UP government four weeks to inform it about the status of the Ramsar tag for Dhanauri wetlands.

Dhanauri Wetland

The Dhanauri Wetlands is a bird-watching area located in Dhanauri village near Dankaur in Uttar Pradesh.
It is home to over 120 Sarus cranes (Sarus Cranes is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh).
It is a sanctuary for 23 species of endangered, critically endangered, and threatened birds, with special significance as a habitat for the majestic Sarus crane.

Dhanauri is a natural wetland that hosts more than 217 bird species, including over 150 Sarus cranes, and serves as a vital birding and nesting site.
It has received recognition as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International and has been documented by the BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society).
During peak migratory seasons (November to March), the wetland hosts over 50,000 waterfowls.

Dhanauri plays a crucial role in supporting the vulnerable Sarus crane population.
The wetland fulfills two key Ramsar site criteria out of nine:

1. It hosts over 1% of the biogeographic Sarus crane population.
2. The area serves as a congregation site for 20,000+ waterfowls and various other species.

The Ramsar Convention, also known as the ‘Convention on Wetlands,’ is an intergovernmental environmental treaty founded by UNESCO in 1971.
It derives its name from the city of Ramsar in Iran, where it was initially signed.
Ramsar sites are wetlands of global significance recognized under this treaty.
The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the brink of ecological changes and in need of close monitoring under the Ramsar Convention.

Ramsar Site Designation Criteria:

Ramsar site designation hinges on several factors:

Representing rare or unique natural wetland types.
Supporting endangered species or threatened ecological communities.
Maintaining biodiversity in specific biogeographic regions.
Offering refuge during adverse conditions.
Regularly accommodating 20,000 or more waterbirds.
Sustaining 1% of a population of a single water-bird species.
Serving as a critical source of food, spawning grounds, nurseries, and migration paths for fish.
Regularly supporting 1% of a population of non-avian wetland-dependent animal species.