New Delhi, June 5 (APAC Media): India marked a major milestone in wetland conservation on World Environment Day as the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district was designated as the country’s 100th Ramsar Site.
With this addition, India now has 100 wetlands recognised under the Ramsar Convention, making it the country with the highest number of Ramsar Sites in Asia and the third-highest globally, behind the United Kingdom and Mexico.
The Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, also known as Surha Tal, is a freshwater wetland located in the middle stretch of the Ganga River basin.
A century as far as Ramsar sites are concerned!
Glad that the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh has been designated as India’s 100th Ramsar site. This wetland is rich in avifaunal biodiversity, attracting several migratory and resident… pic.twitter.com/HENtPJoRnt
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2026
The wetland originated from a former meander of the Ganga and continues to receive freshwater through three natural channels, supporting a rich and diverse ecosystem.
Globally, more than 2,500 wetlands have been designated under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty adopted in 1971 for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
The newly recognised sanctuary has become the world’s 2,595th Ramsar Site.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the achievement, stating that the recognition reflects India’s continued commitment to environmental protection and wetland conservation.
He noted that efforts to preserve and restore wetlands across the country have been strengthened through community participation, scientific interventions, technological innovation, and awareness programmes.
Notably, the number of Ramsar Sites in the country has increased from 26 to 100 over the last 11 years, with 58 wetlands receiving international recognition during the past year alone.
According to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, the landscape surrounding the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary supports a wide range of ecological functions and contributes to regional biodiversity conservation.
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