India has added two (02) more wetlands to the prestigious list of Ramsar sites in December 2025.
- India’s 95th Ramsar site is Siliserh Lake in Alwar, Rajasthan, and Kopra Reservoir in Chhattisgarh has become the 96th site, taking India’s total to 96 sites, the highest in Asia.
India Added Two More Ramsar Sites: These are two Wetlands of International Importance-
- Siliserh lake (316.0 hectares) in Alwar, Rajasthan
- Kopra Jalashay (210.0 hectares) in Bilashpur, Chhattisgarh
About Siliserh lake:
» Siliserh lake is a human-made lake within the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve.
- Since its creation in the mid-nineteenth century, the wetland has become an important cultural and social landmark.
- It is in a semi-arid zone, and the Site serves as an important water source for diverse species of the region.
- Among the 149 bird species and 17 mammal species supported by the Site and its catchments are the vulnerable river tern (Sterna aurantia) and the endangered tiger (Panthera tigris).
- The Site also supports more that 1% of the biogeographic population of black stork (Ciconia nigra).
About Kopra Jalashay:
» Kopra Jalashay is a reservoir located in the upper catchments of the River Mahanadi.
- Originally constructed for irrigation purposes, it is mainly surrounded by farmland and a few villages.
- The wetland’s extensive open water area features shallow nutrient-rich backwaters.
- Its strong hydrological and ecological connectivity contributes to a wide variety of habitats across the area.
- The wetland supports more than 60 migratory bird species which rely on it for nesting, feeding and as a stop-over site.
- Notable species include the vulnerable greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga) and the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).
- The wetland faces threats from siltation, invasive non-native species, and intensive agriculture in the surrounding landscape.
» As of December 2025, the total number of Ramsar Sites in India has reached 96, spanning 1.361.331 hectares. This shows that India is further strengthening its commitment to wetland conservation by adding new Ramsar sites.
Background:
- India is one of the Contracting Parties to Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. India signed it on 1st February 1982.
- During 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 sites were added to the list of Ramsar sites, however, during 2014 to 2022, the country has added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites.
- As of December 2025, there are a total of 96 Ramsar sites in India.
- Tamil Nadu has maximum no. of Ramsar sites (20 nos), followed by UP which has 10 nos. of Ramsar sites.