Faunal Composition of Ramsar Wetlands from India: An Analysis

Authors

  • Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, West Bengal, India
  • Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, West Bengal, India
  • Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, West Bengal, India
  • Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, West Bengal, India
  • Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, West Bengal, India
  • Zoological Survey of India, M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700053, West Bengal, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v123/i1S/2023/172458

Keywords:

Wetlands, Ramsar Sites, Biodiversity, Mann ki Baat, Fauna component

Abstract

Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance and must meet many criterions before being declared as Ramsar
Wetlands, such as having over 20,000 or more water birds and a large number of local fish species. On the occasion of 75
years of independence, the Prime Minister of India announced that the total number of Ramsar Sites in India has increased to 75. Following, the 97th Episode of Mann Ki Baat (on 29.01.2023) by Prime Minister of India, Zoological Survey of India took initiative to compile and document the faunal composition of all the 75 Ramsar Wetlands (RWs) in India. For the first time, it has been found that the faunal diversity of RWs in India accounts for over 7.0% of the total fauna of India, which includes over, 4,538 species of invertebrates, 1,691 species of vertebrates and 562 species of protozoans. Over 2072 species of insects, 672 species of crustaceans, 237 species of arachnids, 187 species of earthworms, polychaetes and leaches are known from these wetlands. There are over 6,791 species of mammals, 739 species of birds, 643 species of fishes, 133 species of reptiles, and 44 species of amphibians. Among vertebrates known from RWs, 26 species are Critically Endangered, 42 Vulnerable and 72 Endangered. This baseline information would be extremely useful for further strengthening the database of each wetland and will be impactful for wetland conservation and management towards its sustainable use.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2023-07-01

How to Cite

Banerjee, D., Bharti, D., Kumar, S., Mitra, A., Joshi, R., & Gupta, D. (2023). Faunal Composition of Ramsar Wetlands from India: An Analysis. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 123(1S), 01–15. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v123/i1S/2023/172458

References

Banerjee, D., Naskar, A., Mandal, G.P. and Chandra, K. 2022. Faunal Diversity of Satkoshia and Basipalli Wildlife Sanctuaries,

Satkoshia Tiger Reserve. Conservation Area Series, 73: 1-812 (Published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Bhattacharyya, T.P., Sett, A.K., Sakthivel, R.and Anand, S. 2006. Avifaunal Composition of Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird

Sanctuary. Conservation Area, Series, 31, 1-62+8 plates (published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Chandra, K., Alfred, J.R.B., Mitra, B. and Chowdhury, B.R. 2017. Fauna of Sunderban Biosphere Reserve, pp. 1-240 (published

by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Chandra, K., Bharti, D., Kumar, S., Raghunathan, C., Gupta, D., Alfred, J.R.B. and Chowdhury, B.R. 2021. Faunal Diversity in

Ramsar Wetlands of India, pp. 1-292 (Jointly Published by the Director, Zoological Survey of India and Wetland Division,

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India).

Chandra, K., Raghunthan, C. and Mao, A.A. 2020b. Biodiversity profile of East Kolkata Wetlands, pp. 1-326 (jointly published

by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata and East Kolkata Wetland Management Authority, Department of Environment,

Govt. of West Bengal).

Chandra, K., Sharma, L.K., Maheswaran, G. and Tripathy, B. 2020b (eds.). Status of Avifaunal Diversity in Bird Sanctuaries of

India pp. 1-216 (Published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata)

Ghermandi, A., van den Bergh, J.C.J.M., Brander, L.M., Nunes, P.A.L.D., 2008. The Economic Value of Wetland Conservation

and Creation: A Meta-Analysis. [Working Paper 79]. Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Milan, Italy.

Jaiswal, D., Chandra, K., Kushwaha, S. and Gupta, D. 2020. Faunal Diversity at Bhoj Wetland, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India (A

Ramsar Wetland). Wetland Ecosystem Series, 22: 1-284 (published the Director, Zool. Sruv. India, Kolkata).

Khan, R.A., Nandi, N.C., Dev, M.K., and Radhakrishnan, C. 2009. Faunal Diversity of Vembanad Lake: An Overview. In: (ed.

Director) Faunal Diversity of Vembanad Lake - A Ramsar site in Kerala, India. Wetland Ecosystem Series,10: 1-192 (Published

by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Kumar, S. 2005. Sambhar Lake: An Overview. In: (ed. Director), Fauna of Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan), Wetland Ecosystem Series,

: 1-42 (published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Kumar, S. 2009. Fauna of Nal Sarovar, Gujarat. Wetland Ecosystem Series, 11: 1-137+12 plates (published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Kumar, S. 2013. Faunal Diversity of Khijadiya Lake and Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat -An Avian Community Perspective. Wetland

Ecosystem Series, 15: 1-193 (published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Mehta, H.S., Saini, K. and Sharma, I. 2009. In Overview. In: (ed. Director), Faunal Diversity of Pong Dam and its catchment area

(district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh). Wetland Ecosystem Series, 12: 1-138 + 8 plates (published by the Director, Zool. Surv.

India, Kolkata)

Nanda, S., S. Gowda, F.B. Nanda and T. Kar (2019). Birds of Ansupa. Chilika Development Authority, Bhubaneswar: 200p.

Ramakrishna, 2002. Fauna of Kabar Lake (Bihar), Wetland Ecosystem Series, 4: 1-134 (Published: Director, Zool. Surv. India,

Kolkata).

Sharma et al. 2014. Managing Our Resources: Perspectives and Planing. (Eds) Bihari Lal Sharma (Managing Editor) B.R. Thakur, D.D. Sharma (Editor), S.P. Bansal (Foreword). Chapter “Wetlands: Strategy for Natural Resource Management through

Wetlands Conservation in India”. Bharti Publications, 4819/24, 3rd Floor, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002.

Sharma, S. and Sharma, B.K. 2013. Faunal Diversity of Aquatic Invertebrates of Deepor Beel (A Ramsar site), Assam, Northeast

India. Wetland Ecosystem Series, 17: 1-227 (published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Sidhu, A.K., Sharma, I. and Saini, K. 2018. An Overview. In: (ed., Director). Faunal Resources of Cold Desert Spiti Valley and

Chandertal Lake (district Lahaul & Spiti, Himachal Pradesh). Himalayan Ecosystem Series, 4: 1-111 (published by the Director,

Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Tak, P.C. and Rizvi, A.N. 2017. Fauna of Sultanpur National Park: An Overview. In: (ed. Director), Fauna of Sultanpur National

Park, Conservation Area Series, 60: 1-7 (Published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Tak, P.C., Sati, J.P. and Kumar, A. 2003. Fauna of Asan Wetland: An Overview. In: (ed. Director) Fauna of Asan Wetland, Wetland Ecosystem Series, pp. 1-5 (published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Calcutta).

ten Brink, P., Badura, T., Farmer, A., and Russi, D., 2012. The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands: ABriefing Note. Institute for European Environmental Policy, London.

Tripathy, B., Sharma, L.K. and Chandra, K. 2019. Faunal Diversity and Conservation Management Plan for Thane Creek

Flamingo Sanctuary at Thane, Mumbai, Maharashtra, pp. 65 (Zoological Survey of India, report).

Turner, R.K., van der Bergh, J.C.J.M., Soderqvist, T., Barendregt, A., van der Straaten, J., Maltby, E., andvan Ierland, E.C., 2000.

Ecological-economic analysis of wetlands: scientific integration for management and policy. Ecol. Econ. 35 (1), 7–23.

Venkataraman, K. and Satyanarayan, C. 2012. Studies on the Status of coral reefs and some Associated organism in Gulf of

Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Conservation Area Series, 335, pp. 1-40 (published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata).

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 5 > >>