Ramsar sites in India

The list of Ramsar sites (related to wetland) in India comprises Indian wetlands deemed to be of
"international importance" under the Ramsar Convention.

According to WWF-India, wetlands are one of the most threatened of all ecosystems in India. Loss of
vegetation, salinization, excessive inundation, water pollution, invasive species, excessive development
and road building, have all damaged the country‟s wetlands.

Keoldeo and Loktak lake Montreux record

Chilika and Keoldeo oldest ramsar site (1981)

[3]
Name Location Description

A natural backwater in Kollam district. River Kallada and

Pallichal drains into it.. National Waterway 3 passes
Ashtamudi Kerala
1 through it.
Wetland

It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, situated

in Kollam district. River Kallada had a unique replenishing
Sasthamkotta system through a bar of paddy field which has now
Kerala
Lake disappeared due to indiscriminate sand and clay mining. The
lake is now depleting due to destruction of replenishing
mechanism.

Largest lake of Kerala, spanning

across Alappuzha, Kottayam , and Ernakulam districts.

Famous tourist locations like Alappuzha and Kumarakom,

Vembanad-Kol known for house boats falls here.
25 Kerala
Wetland
River mouths of Pamba-Achenkovil rivers in Vembanad
forms one of the unique wetland topography of Kerala, the
Kuttanad. It is below sea level and is famous for exotic fish
varieties and Paddy fields that are below sea level.

Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, which bounds

the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary to the east, was created in
Bhitarkanika Odisha
2 September 1997, and encompasses Gahirmatha Beach and
Mangroves
an adjacent portion of the Bay of Bengal.

Bhitarkanika Mangroves were designated a Ramsar Wetland

 [3]
Name Location Description

of International Importance in 2002.

It is also famous for its salt water crocodiles and Olive ridley
sea turtle.

a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and

Ganjam districts of Odisha state on the east coast of India, at
the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal,
covering an area of over 1,100 km2.

It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second

largest lagoon in the world.

In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian

wetland of international importance under the Ramsar
Convention.

In November 2002, the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award

was presented to the Chilika Development Authority for
Chilika Lake Odisha "outstanding achievements in the field of restoration and wise
use of wetlands and effective participation of local
communities in these activities.

Nalbana Island is the core area of the Ramsar designated

wetlands of Chilika Lake. Nalbana was notified in 1987 and
declared a bird sanctuary in 1973 under the Wildlife
Protection Act.

The Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship species of Chilika

lake. Chilka is home to the only known population of
Irrawaddy dolphins in India and one of only two lagoons in
the world that are home to this species. It is classified as
critically endangered, in five of the six other places it is known
to live.

Consists of two lakes - the Bhojtal and the Lower Lake. It is a

manmade reservoir.
Madhya
3 Bhoj Wetland Pradesh The Upper Lake acts as the lifeline of the city supplying 40%
of its potable water.

Sarus cranes have also been sighted here

4 Chandra Taal Himachal A high altitude lake on the upper Chandra valley flowing to
Pradesh the Chandra river of the Western Himalayas near the
 [3]
Name Location Description

Kunzam pass joining the Himalayan and Pir Panjal ranges.

It supports CITES and IUCN Red listed Snow Leopard and

is a refuge for many species like Snow Cock, Chukor, Black
Ring Stilt, Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Chough, Red Fox,
Himalayan Ibex, and Blue Sheep.

These species, over the years, have developed special

physiological features as adaption strategies to cold arid
climate, intense radiation, and oxygen deficiency.

Some 65% of the larger catchment is degraded forest due to

overgrazing by the nomadic herdsmen, while 35% are
covered by grasslands. Other threatening factors to this
fragile and sparse vegetation are summer trekking, littering
waste, and lack of sanitation facilities.

A natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland

subterranean karst formations, fed by a small stream flowing
from the lower Himalayan out to the Giri river.

The lake has high religious significance and is named after

the mother of Hindu sage Parshuram, and is thus visited by
Himachal thousands of pilgrims and tourists.
5 Renuka Lake
Pradesh
Conservation measures so far include community awareness,
and prevention of silt influx from eroded slopes and 50 ha. of
massive plantation in the catchment.

The site is managed by the Shimla Forest Department,

Himachal Pradesh.

A water storage reservoir created in 1975 on the Beas River

in the low foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of
the Indo-Gangetic plain.

Pong Dam Himachal Hydrological values include monsoon-season flood

Lake Pradesh prevention, both in the surroundings and downstream due to
water regulation, groundwater recharge, silt trapping and
prevention of soil erosion; electricity is generated for this and
neighboring states, and irrigation water is being channeled to
fertile areas of the Punjab and Rajasthan deserts.

A permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the

6 Deepor Beel Assam
Brahmaputra river, of great biological importance and also
essential as the only major storm water storage basin for
 [3]
Name Location Description

the city of Guwahati.

The beel is a staging site on migratory flyways and some

globally threatened birds are supported, including Spotbilled
Pelican, Lesser and Greater Adjutant Stork and Baer's
Pochard.

The 50 fish species present provide livelihoods for a number

of surrounding villages, and nymphaea nuts and flowers, as
well as ornamental fish, medicinal plants, and seeds of the
Giant water lily Euryale ferox provide major revenue
sources in local markets; orchids of commercial value are
found in the neighboring forest.

Potential threats include over-fishing and hunting pressure

upon waterbirds, pollution from pesticides and fertilizers, and
infestation by water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes. A
proposal to create a sewage canal from the city directly to the
beel is considered to be disastrous in its potential effects.

World-renowned as a model of a multiple use wetland, the

site's resource recovery systems, developed by local people
through the ages, have saved the city of Calcutta from the
costs of constructing and maintaining waste water treatment
plants. The wetland forms an urban facility for treating the
city's waste water and utilizing the treated water for
pisciculture and agriculture, through the recovery of nutrients
in an efficient manner - the water flows through fish ponds
covering about 4,000 ha, and the ponds act as solar reactors
and complete most of their bio-chemical reactions with the
help of solar energy. Thus the system is described as "one of
East Calcutta the rare examples of environmental protection and
7 West Bengal development management where a complex ecological
Wetlands
process has been adopted by the local farmers for mastering
the resource recovery activities" (RIS).

The wetland provides fresh vegetables as well as tonnes

table fish per year, the latter providing livelihoods for about
50,000 people directly and as many again indirectly.

The fish ponds are mostly operated by worker cooperatives,

in some cases in legal associations and in others in
cooperative groups whose tenurial rights are under legal
challenge. A potential threat is seen in recent unauthorized
use of the waste water outfall channels by industries
which add metals to the canal sludge and threaten the
 [3]
Name Location Description

edible quality of the fish and vegetables.

A shallow water reservoir with thirteen islands, at the

confluence of two rivers. Dense floating vegetation covers
70% of the lake.

An important site for breeding, wintering and staging birds,

8 Harike Wetland Punjab
supporting over 200,000 Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans, etc.)
during migration. The entire lake is leased on an annual basis
to commercial fishery organizations.

A permanent stream, the Kali Bein, converted by construction

of a small barrage in 1870 into a water storage area for
irrigation purposes. The site fulfils Criteria 3 because of its
importance in supporting a considerable diversity of aquatic,
mesophytic, and terrestrial flora and fauna in the
biogeographical region, and acts also as a key regulator of
groundwater discharge and recharge with the seasons. By
this means and by direct abstraction of water for irrigation by
the local population, the site plays a crucial role in the
agriculture which predominates on the surrounding fertile
10 Kanjli Wetland Punjab plain, with fewer pressures upon water supplies than
elsewhere in the Punjab. The invasive water hyacinth is
present and must be removed from time to time; increasing
pollution levels, deforestation in the catchment area, and
excessive grazing are seen as potential threats. The stream
is considered to be the most significant in the state from
the religious point of view, as it is associated with the
first guru of the Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The
stream itself and surrounding marsh is under provincial
ownership and surrounding areas privately owned. The site is
a center for environmental tourism and picnicking.

Formed by confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers

Located in the northwest Himalayan biogeographic province

Hokera Jammu and of Kashmir, back of the snow-draped Pir Panchal
Wetland Kashmir
Hokera wetland is only 10 km from Srinagar.

A natural perennial wetland contiguous to the Jhelum

basin, it is the only site with remaining reedbeds of Kashmir
 [3]
Name Location Description

and pathway of 68 waterfowl species including migratory

birds.

It is an important source of food, spawning ground and

nursery for fishes, besides offering feeding and breeding
ground to a variety of water birds.

Sustainable exploitation of fish, fodder and fuel is significant,

despite water withdrawals since 1999. Potential threats
include recent housing facilities, littered garbage, and
demand for increasing tourist facilities.

Surinsar- Jammu and

Mansar Lakes Kashmir

A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea

level, with wet meadows and borax-laden wetlands along
the shores.

The site is said to represent the only breeding ground outside

of China for one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-
necked crane (Grus nigricollis), and the only breeding
ground for Bar-headed geese in India.

The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni)

and Tibetan Wild Ass (Equus kiang) are endemic to the
Tibetan plateau, of which the Changthang is the
Jammu and westernmost part. The barley fields at Korzok have been
Tsomoriri
Kashmir described as the highest cultivated land in the world.

With no outflow, evaporation in the arid steppe conditions

causes varying levels of salinity.

Ancient trade routes and now major trekking routes pass the
site. The 400-year-old Korzok monastery attracts many
tourists, and the wetland is considered sacred by local
Buddhist communities and the water is not used by them.

The local community dedicated Tsomoriri as a WWF Sacred

Gift for the Living Planet in recognition of WWF-India's project
work there.

The largest freshwater lake in India with extensive marshes of

Jammu and emergent and floating vegetation, particularly water chestnut,
Wular Lake
Kashmir that provide an important source of revenue for the State
Government and fodder for domestic livestock. The lake
supports an important fishing industry and is a valuable
 [3]
Name Location Description

source of water for irrigation and domestic use. The area is

important for wintering, staging and breeding birds. Human
activities include rice cultivation and tree farming.

A complex of ten artificial, seasonal lagoons, varying in size,

situated in a densely populated region. Vegetation is a
mosaic of scrub and open grassland that provides habitat for
breeding, wintering and staging migratory birds.

The canal provides water for agriculture and domestic

consumption.
Keoladeo
11 Rajasthan
National Park Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990 due to "water
shortage and an unbalanced grazing regime". Additionally,
the invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has
changed the ecological character of large areas of the site,
reducing its suitability for certain waterbird species, notably
the Siberian crane. Also invasive catfish is a menace to lake
diversity.

The Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake.

Sambhar has been designated as a Ramsar site (recognized
wetland of international importance) because the wetland is a
key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos and
Sambhar Lake Rajasthan other birds that migrate from northern Asia. The specialized
algae and bacteria growing in the lake provide striking water
colours and support the lake ecology that, in turn, sustains
the migrating waterfowl. There is other wildlife in the nearby
forests, where Nilgai move freely along with deer and foxes.

An important bird site. Grey pelican found here. The Grey

Pelican also called the Spot Billed Pelican is listed in
Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection cans and in the Red
Data Book. It is also considered a “globally threatened
species” under the “vulnerable” category.
Andhra
12 Kolleru Lake Due to pisciculture, birds were driven away. Fishing and
Pradesh
agriculture has caused huge damage to the lake. The
lake, which has an original area of 1,000 square kilometres,
shrunk to around 270 square km mostly after aquaculture was
taken up on a large scale a few decades ago. The number of
migratory birds from Siberia came down drastically.

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the north-eastern

13 Loktak Lake Manipur region of the country, which is famous for the phumdis
(heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matters
 [3]
Name Location Description

at various stages of decomposition) floating over it. Keibul

Lamjao the only floating national park in the world floats
over it. The Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is the last
natural refuge of the endangered "Sangai" or Manipur
brow-antlered deer ('Cervus eldi eldi'), one of three
2
subspecies of Eld's deer, covering an area of 40 km (15 sq
mi), is situated in the southeastern shores of this lake and is
the largest of all the phumdis in the lake

A natural freshwater lake (a relict sea) that is the largest

natural wetland in the Thar Desert Biogeographic Province
and represents a dynamic environment with salinity and depth
varying depending on rainfall.

It is an important stopover site within the Central Asia Flyway,

with globally threatened species such as the critically
endangered Sociable Lapwing and the vulnerable Marbled
Teal stopping over at the site during migration, while the
Nalsarovar vulnerable Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) takes refuge there
14 Gujarat during summer when other water bodies are dry.
Bird Sanctuary
The wetland is also a lifeline for a satellite population of the
endangered Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur) which
uses this area in the dry season.

Local communities heavily rely on the lake as it provides them

with a source of drinking water and water for irrigiation, as
well as an important source of income from fishing for Catla
fish (Catla Catla) and Rohu (Labeo rohita). An average of
75,000 tourists visit the wetland annually.

One of the last remnants of Dry Evergreen Forests.

Point Calimere Habitat:Dry Evergreen Forests, Mangrove & Wetlands.

15 Wildlife and Tamil Nadu
Winter Migrants : Spoon Billed Sandpiper, Greater Flamingos.
Bird Sanctuary
Threats: Agricultural & Shrimp farm runoff =>High
concentration of DDT & HCH in their tissue||

A human made wetland of lake and river formed by the 1952

construction of a barrage for diversion of water from the
18 Ropar_Wetland Punjab
Sutlej River for drinking and irrigation supplies.

The site is an important breeding place for the nationally

 [3]
Name Location Description

protected Smooth Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Sambar, and

several reptiles, and the endangered Indian Pangolin (Manis
crassicaudata) is thought to be present.

Local fisheries are economically significant, and wheat, rice,

sugar cane, and sorghum are cultivated in the surrounding
area.

Deforested local hills leading to siltation, and increasing

industrialization causing an inflow of pollutants, are potential
threats, and invasive weeds are a further cause for concern.
Nature lovers, birdwatchers, swimmers and boaters visit the
[4]
site in considerable numbers.

Rudrasagar
19 Tripura
Lake

A shallow river stretch of the great Ganges with intermittent

small stretches of deep-water pools and reservoirs upstream
from barrages.

The river provides habitat for IUCN Red listed Ganges River
Dolphin, Gharial, Crocodile, 6 species of turtles, otters, 82
Upper Ganga species of fish and more than hundred species of birds.
River (Brijghat
24 Uttar Pradesh
to Narora This river stretch has high Hindu religious importance for
Stretch) thousands of pilgrims and is used for cremation and holy
baths for spiritual purification.

Major threats are sewage discharge, agricultural runoff, and

intensive fishing. Conservation activities carried out are
plantation to prevent bank erosion, training on organic
farming, and lobbying to ban commercial fishing.
Biosphere Reserves:

The Indian government has established 18 Biosphere Reserves in India,[1] (categories roughly
corresponding to IUCN Category V Protected areas), which protect larger areas of natural habitat (than a
National Park or Animal Sanctuary), and often include one or more National Parks and/or preserves,
along with buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora
and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and
their ways of life. Animals are protected and saved here.

Ten of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves,
based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.

Name States Year

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka 2000

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu 2001

Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve West Bengal 2001

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Uttarakhand 2004

Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Meghalaya 2009

Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh 2009

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Odisha 2009

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Great Nicobar 2013

[2]
2012
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh

[5]
2016
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque

Nilgiri Part Nadu, Keral Western
1986 Biosphere of Waynad, Nagarhole, a and Karn Ghats
Reserve Bandipur and Muduma kabini river passes through it..
ataka
lai, Nilambur, Silent
 Valley India's first and foremost biosphere reserves

The reserve encompasses three ecoregions,

the South Western Ghats moist deciduous
forests, South Western Ghats montane rain
forests, and South Deccan Plateau dry
deciduous forests.

It has largest population of two

endangered species Lion-tailed macaque
and Nilgiri tahr

Of the 175 species of orchids found in the

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, eight are
endemic. These include endemic and
endangered species of Vanda, Liparis,
Bulbophyllum and Thrixspermum.

The sholas of the reserve are a treasure

house of rare plant species.

About 80% of flowering plants reported from

Western Ghats occur in NBR

Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear

The park encompasses the Nanda Devi

Sanctuary, a glacial basin surrounded by a
ring of peaks between 6,000 metres and
7,500 m high, and drained by the Rishi
Comprise of nanda Ganga through the Rishi Ganga Gorge, a
devi national park and steep, almost impassable defile.
Nanda Devi Valley of Flowers
National
Uttarakhan WesternHimal The entire park lies at an elevation of more
1988 Park &
Parts of Chamoli d ayas than 3,500 m (11,500 ft) above mean sea
Biosphere
Reserve District, Pithoragarh level.
District & Bageshwar Common larger mammals are Himalayan
District musk deer, mainland serow and Himalayan
tahr.

Goral are not found within, but in the vicinity

of the park. Carnivores are represented by
snow leopard, Himalayan black bear and
perhaps also brown bear.

Dugong
Indian part of Gulf of
Mannar extending from
The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay
Rameswaram island in
Gulf of forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the
1989 the North to Tamil Nadu Coasts
Mannar Indian Ocean.
Kanyakumari in the
South of Tamil Nadu
and Sri Lanka Ramsethu, also called Adam's Bridge, which
includes Mannar Island, separates the Gulf
of Mannar from Palk Bay, which lies to the
 north between India and Sri Lanka.

The estuaries of Thamirabarani River of

South India and the Malvathu Oya (Malvathu
River) of Sri Lanka drain into the Gulf.

117 hard coral species have been

recorded in the Gulf of Mannar. Sea turtles
are frequent visitors to the gulf as are
sharks, dugongs, and dolphins.

Endangered species include dolphins,

dugongs, whales and sea cucumbers.
The islets and coastal buffer zone includes
beaches, estuaries, and tropical dry
broadleaf forests, while the marine
environments include seaweed communities,
sea grass communities, coral reefs, salt
marshes and mangrove forests

Red panda

in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya,

India.

UNESCO added this National park to its

list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.

Along with Balphakram national park,

Nokrek is a hotspot of biodiversity in
Meghalaya. known for red panda....

Nokrek is also an important habitat of the

Asian elephants.The park had eight species
of cats, ranging from Tiger to Marbled cat
but the current status of the former is
East uncertain.
1988 Nokrek In west Garo Hills Meghalaya
Himalayas
There are seven species of primates in
Nokrek. The rare Stump-tailed macaque is
frequently seen near the main trek to the
peak. The Pig-tailed macaque also occurs.
Hoolocks are common and their calls could
be heard all over Nokrek.

Nokrek is also an Important Bird Area.

The mother germoplasm of Citrus indica

(locally known as Memang Narang) have
been discovered by science researchers
within Nokrek Range. This discovery led to
the establishment of the National Citrus
Gene Sanctuary-cum-Biosphere Reserve
covering an area of forty-seven square
kilometres.The area is noted for its wild
varieties of citrus fruits that provide a gene-
 pool for commercially produced citrus.

Royal Bengal tiger

sundari and Kewra trees

a National Park, Tiger Reserve, and a

Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal, India
Part of delta
West Gangetic
1989 Sundarbans of Ganges and Brahma It is a UNESCO world heritage site inscripted
Bengal Delta
putra river system in 1987.

It is considered as a World Network of

Biosphere Reserve (Man and Biosphere
Reserve) in 2001.

Part
of Kokrajhar, Bongaiga
East
1989 Manas on, Barpeta, Nalbari, K Assam Golden langur, red panda
Himalayas
amrup and Darrang
Districts

Gaur, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant

Meghasini, Baherepani, Joranda

elephant reserve in the Mayurbhanj district

Simlipal National Park derives its name from

the abundance of semul (red silk cotton
Part of Mayurbhanj trees) that bloom abundantly here
district
Simlipal Elephant Reserve is an ecosystem
It includes— Similipal complete with forest vegetation (mainly sal
Tiger Reserve , Deccan trees), fauna and the adjoining Santhal
1994 Simlipal Odisha tribal settlements
Hadgarh Wildlife Peninsula
Sanctuar and Kuldiha
Wildlife Sanctuary 96 species of orchids have been identified
here.

It lies in the Eastern Highlands moist

deciduous forests ecoregion, with tropical
moist broadleaf forest and tropical moist
deciduous forests with dry deciduous hill
forest and high level Sal forests.

The grasslands and the savannas provide

grazing grounds for the herbivores and
hiding place to the carnivores. The forest
boasts of innumerable medicinal and
aromatic plants, which provide a source of
 earnings for the tribal people.

The grey hornbill, Indian pied hornbill,

Malabar pied hornbill and Indian trogon are
also found in the reserve.[citation needed]

The park has a sizeable population of

reptiles, which includes snakes and turtles.
The "Mugger Crocodile Management
Programme" has helped the Mugger
crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) to survive
and flourish on the banks of Khairi river.

Mishmi Takin, Musk Deer

The sanctuary is rich in wildlife. Rare

mammals such as Mishmi takin (endemic
goat antelope), red goral, musk deer (at
least two species), red panda, Asiatic black
Part bear, occasional tiger and Gongshan
Dihang- Arunachal Eastern
1998 of Siang and Dibang muntjac occur while among birds there are
Dibang Pradesh Himalaya
Valley the rare Sclater's monal and Blyth's
tragopan.

A flying squirrel, new to science has been

recently discovered from the edge of this
sanctuary. It has been named the Mishmi
Hills giant flying squirrel

Giant squirrel, flying squirrel

The biosphere reserve includes three

Parts of Betul wildlife conservation units:
Pachmarhi
District, Hoshangabad Madhya
1999 Biosphere Semi-Arid
District and Chhindwar Pradesh Bori Sanctuary ,Pachmarhi Sanctuary ,
Reserve
a District Satpura National Park

Tawa RIver, Dhupgarh peak, apsara and

Rajat prapat waterfalls.

Four-horned antelope, Indian wild

dog, Sarus crane, White-rumped
vulture, Philautus sanctisilvaticus (Sacred
grove bush frog)
Achanakma
r- Part Madhya located in Maikala hills, Four-horned
2005 Amarkantak of Annupur, Dindori an Pradesh, C Maikala Hills antelope, Indian wild dog, Sarus crane,
Biosphere d Bilaspur districts hhattisgarh White-rumped vulture, Philautus
Reserve sanctisilvaticus (Sacred grove bush frog).
Extends across the states of Madhya
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh...............

The reserve is also the source of three major

river systems: the Narmada, the Johilla and
the Son River. Maikal hill ranges together
 with Vindhya and Satpura lie within the
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere
Reserve.

The forest area of the reserve has tropical

deciduous vegetation and it can be classified
into Northern Tropical Moist Deciduous and
Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous forests.

Indian wild ass

The Great Rann of Kutch is a seasonal salt

marsh located in the Thar Desert in the
Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh
province of Pakistan.

It is reputed to be one of the largest salt

deserts in the world. This area has been
inhabited by the Kutchi people...

Although most of the marsh is in protected

areas, the habitats are vulnerable to cattle
grazing, firewood collection and salt
extraction operations, all of which may
involve transportation that disturbs wildlife.

Part There are several wildlife sanctuaries and

Great Rann of Kutch, Rajkot, Suren protected reserves on the Indian side in the
2008 Gujarat Desert
of Kutch dranagar and Patan Rann of Kutch region.
Districts

There are sandy islets of thorny scrub,

forming a wildlife sanctuary and a breeding
ground for some of the largest flocks of
greater and lesser flamingos. Wildlife,
including the Indian wild ass, shelter on
islands of higher ground, called bets, during
the flooding.

From the city of Bhuj, various ecologically

rich and wildlife conservation areas of the
Kutch/Kachchh district can be visited such
as Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutch Desert
Wildlife Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar
Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary,
Banni Grasslands Reserve and Chari-
Dhand Wetland Conservation Reserve.

Pin Valley National Snow leopard

Park and
Himachal Western Hima
2009 Cold Desert surroundings;Chandrat
Pradesh layas Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife
al and Sarchu & Kibber
Wildlife Sancturary Sancturary, Pin Valley national Park
 Snow leopard, red panda

It is a National Park and a Biosphere reserve

located in Sikkim, India.

The park gets its name from the mountain

Kanchenjunga (alternative spelling
Khangchendzonga) which is 8,586 metres
(28,169 ft) tall, the third-highest peak in the
Khangchen Parts East world.
2000 Sikkim
dzonga of Kangchenjunga Himalayas
There are many glaciers in the park
including the Zemu glacier. Animals like
musk deer, snow leopard and Himalayan
tahr, red panda all make their home in this
park.

There are a few Lepcha tribal settlements

inside the park.

Nilgiri tahr, elephants

Neyyar, Peppara and Shenduruny Wildlife

Sanctuary and kallakad muduntharai tiger
reserve their adjoining areas............

known for nilgiri tahr and wild elephants...

Located in both Kerala and Tamil

Nadu................
Agasthyam Neyyar, Peppara and S
alai henduruny Wildlife Kerala, Ta Western Agasthya mala peak (1868m) in TN lies in
2001 this park
Biosphere Sanctuary and their mil Nadu Ghats
Reserve adjoining areas

ABR includes the Indian Ecoregions of

South Western Ghats moist deciduous
forests, South Western Ghats montane rain
forests and Shola.

Agastyamalai is also home to the Kanikaran,

one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in
the world. Kanikkarans are the Original tribal
Settlers in Agasthyamalai Biosphere
Reserve

Saltwater crocodile
Great
Southern most islands Andaman It incorporates two National parks of India :
Nicobar
1989 of Andaman and and Nicobar Islands the larger Campbell Bay National Park on
Biosphere
Nicobar Islands Islands the northern part of the island, and Galathea
Reserve
National Park in the southern interior.

Environment is tropical wet evergreen forest

 .

The reserve which encompasses a large

part of the island of Great Nicobar is home to
indigenous Shompen people, semi-
nomadic hunters living inland, and the
Nicobarese, who are coastal dwellers
dependent on fishing and horticulture..

.species include saltwater crocodile, ginat

robber crab /coconut crab, nicobar long
tailed macaque etc

Species of fauna in the reserve include:

Nicobar scrubfowl , the edible-nest swiftlet ,
the Nicobar long-tailed macaque , saltwater
crocodile , giant leatherback sea turtle ,
Malayan box turtle, Nicobar tree shrew,
reticulated python and the giant robber crab
(or coconut crab.

Golden langur

known for golden langur..........

The park bounded is by the Brahmaputra

and Lohit rivers in the north and Dibru river
in the south.

It mainly consists of moist mixed semi-

evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous
forests, canebrakes and grasslands.
Part
Dibru- East
1997 of Dibrugarh and Tinsu Assam It is the largest salix swamp forest in
Saikhowa Himalayas
kia districts north east India.

Situated in the flood plains of the

Brahmaputra and the Lohit, at an altitude of
118 m above sea level, Dibru-Saikhowa is a
haven for many endangered species.

Due to the auto stocking by the Brahmaputra

and Dibru river, it is rich in fish diversity.
Dibru Saikhowa has tropical monsoon
climate with a hot and wet summer and cool
and usually dry winter.

Seshachalam Hill Slender Loris

Seshachala Ranges covering parts Andhra
2010 Eastern Ghats
m Hills of Chittoor and Kadapa Pradesh The famous Natural Arch, Tirumala Hills is
districts also a part of Seshachalam Hills

2011 Panna Part of Panna Catchment

Madhya Tiger, chital, chinkara, sambhar and sloth
District and Chhatarpur Area of
 District Pradesh the Ken River bear

on Panna hills, Ken river passes through it,

Khajuraho near by, imp animals include
Chital, chinkara, Sambhar, gaur, sloth bear.
it also has a tiger reserve.......

This area is the northernmost tip of the

natural teak forests and the easternmost tip
of the natural 'Kardhai' Anogeissus pendula
forests.

Tiger reserves:

Name
a. of Tiger State Some details
Reserve
1. Bandipur Karnataka Part of Nilgiri biosphere reserve
Has many types of biomes, but dry deciduous
forest is dominant. As a result, the park has a
variety of biomes including dry deciduous
forests, moist deciduous forests and
shrublands.
The park is flanked by the Kabini river in the
north and the Moyar river in the south.
2. Bhadra Karnataka  Hebbe Giri is the highest peak (1875m) in
the sanctuary. Hebbe waterfalls.
 Bababudan giri range: Manikyadhara Falls
located here
 tributaries of the Bhadra river flow west
through the sanctuary.
 dry deciduous forest, moist deciduous
forest and semi evergreen forests.
 Elevations ranging from 615 m (2,018 ft) to
1,875 m (6,152 ft) above MSL allows a
variety of ecotypes including the unique
shola forest/mountain grasslands complex
at Bababudan Giri.
3. Dandeli-Anshi Karnataka Bengal tigers, black panthers and Indian
elephants.
The Kali River flows through it.
4. Nagarahole Karnataka Kabini reservoir separates the two parks ,
Nagarhole and bandipur.
Vegetation here consists mainly of
  North Western Ghats moist deciduous
forests with (teak and rosewood
predominating in the southern parts.
 Central Deccan Plateau dry deciduous
forests with Pala indigo and thorny
wattle towards the east.
 There are some sub-montane valley
swamp forests with several species of
the Eugenia genus.
Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Ussuri dhole, sloth
bear and the striped hyena . The herbivores are
chital, sambar deer, barking deer, four-horned
antelope , gaur , wild boar and Indian elephant.
Other mammals includes the gray langur ,
bonnet macaque , jungle cat, slender loris ,
leopard cat , civet, mongoose, European otter ,
Indian giant flying squirrel , Indian giant
squirrel, porcupine, golden jackal, chevrotain
(mouse deer) , hare and pangolin .
5. Biligiri Karnataka
Ranganatha
Temple
6. Sariska Rajasthan  supports scrub-thorn arid forests, rocky
landscapes, dry deciduous forests,
rocks, grasses and hilly cliffs.
 part of the Aravalli Range, is rich in
mineral resources, such as copper. In
spite of the Supreme Court's 1991 ban
on mining in the area, marble mining
continues to threaten the environment
 Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, jungle cat,
caracal, striped hyena, Indian jackal,
chital, sambhar, nilgai, chinkara
The dominant tree in the forests is dhok
(Anogeissus pendula).
16th-century Kankwadi fort, originally built by
Jai Singh II, located here. Pandupol in the hills
in the centre of the reserve is believed to be
one of the retreats of Pandava
7. Ranthambore Rajasthan Located at the edge of a plateau and is
bounded to the north by the Banas River and to
the south by the Chambal River.
Deciduous FOREST
th
Named after the historic 10 century
Ranthambhore fortress, which lies within the
 park.
Three red Karauli stone temples devoted to
Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji. There is a
Digamber Jain temple also. The temples were
constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Kathiarbar-Gir dry deciduous forests.
8. Mukandra Hills Rajasthan
9. Corbett Uttarakhand lies on UP , UK border . Ramganga Dam , also
known as Kalagarh dam is located inside the
reserve
oldest national park in India and was
established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to
protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is
located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and
was named after Jim Corbett who played a key
role in its establishment.
The park was the first to come under the
Project Tiger initiative.
Forest covers almost 73% of the park, 10% of
the area consists of grasslands.
The park encompasses the Patli Dun valley
formed by the Ramganga river. It protects parts
of the Upper Gangetic Plains moist
deciduous forests and Himalayan
subtropical pine forests ecoregions. It has a
humid subtropical and highland climate.
Corbett National Park is one of the thirteen
protected areas covered by the World Wide
Fund For Nature under their Terai Arc
Landscape Program.
The program aims to protect three of the five
terrestrial flagship species, the tiger, the Asian
elephant and the great one-horned rhinoceros,
by restoring corridors of forest to link 13
protected areas of Nepal and India, to enable
wildlife migration
10. Rajaji Tige Uttarakhand 48th Tiger reserve.
Reserve encompasses the Shivaliks, near the foothills of
the Himalayas. Song river
Named after C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), a
prominent leader of the Freedom Struggle,
Broadleaved deciduous forests, riverine
vegetation, scrubland, grasslands and pine
forests form the range of flora in this park.
11. Amangarh Uttar Pradesh
 (buffer of
Corbett TR)
12. Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh It comprises the Dudhwa National Park,
Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katarniaghat
Wildlife Sanctuary.
It represents one of the few remaining
examples of a highly diverse and productive
Terai ecosystem, supporting a large number of
endangered species, obligate species of tall wet
grasslands and species of restricted
distribution.
The park's mosaic of high forest interspersed
with grasslands is characteristic of the Terai
ecosystems in India and the area is, probably,
the last prominent remnant of this type of
ecosystem. The forests, especially the sal
forests, have always been very dense and can
be categorized into northern tropical semi-
evergreen forest, northern Indian moist
deciduous forest, tropical seasonal swamp
forest and northern tropical dry deciduous
forest.
tigers, leopards, Asiatic black bears, sloth
bears, Swamp deer, rhinoceros, elephants,
cheetal, hog deer, barking deer, hispid hare.

stronghold of the barasingha.

Around half of the world's barasinghas are

present in Dudhwa National Park
13. Pilibhit Uttar Pradesh The northeastern boundary of the reserve is the
River Sharda (Nepali:Mahakali River) which
defines the Indo-Nepal border, while the
southwest boundary is marked by the River
Sharda and the River Ghaghara.
This reserve is one of the finest examples of the
highly diversified and productive Terai-Duar
savanna and grasslands eco-system.
14. Valmiki Bihar an excellent example of Himalayan Terai
landscape.
Flood plains of Gandak and Burhi Gandak and
their tributaries
tiger, Rhinoceros, Black bear, Leopard, wild
buffalo
The Valmiki landscape harbors vivid socio-
 cultural diversity. „Tharu’, a scheduled tribe, is
the dominant community in the landscape.
15. Palamau Jharkhand Forms part of Betla National Park, is in
Jharkhand
16. Similipal Odisha Meghansini peak, Joranda, Barhipani waterfalls
17. Satkosia Odisha Mahanadi river passes through it
18. Kanha Madhya Pradesh
19. Bandhavgarh Madhya Pradesh Located on Bandhavgarh hillock, one of the
most dense tiger reserve, royal bengal tiger,
Sita and Charger descendents, other animals
include Sambhar, Chital, CARACAL, WOLF,
NILGAI ETC
20. Panna Madhya Pradesh Panna biosphere reserve, also tiger reserve
on Panna hills, Ken river passes through it,
Khajuraho near by, imp animals include Chital,
chinkara, Sambhar, gaur, sloth bear.
This area is the northernmost tip of the
natural teak forests and the easternmost tip of
the natural 'Kardhai' Anogeissus pendula
forests.
21. Pench Madhya Pradesh
22. Satpura Madhya Pradesh Dhuparah peak, tawa river, Apsara and Rajat
Prapat waterfalls
23. Sanjay-Dubri Madhya Pradesh
24. Indravati Chhattisgarh
25. Udanti-Sitanadi Chattisgarh
26. Achanakmar Chattisgarh
27. Melghat Maharashtra
28. Tadoba-Andhari Maharashtra
29. Pench Maharashtra
30. Sahyadri Maharashtra Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is a reserve in the state
of Maharashtra. It was created by the Indian
government in 2008.

The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is located in the

Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats of
Maharashtra, and is a part of the ecoregions of
North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests
and North Western Ghats montane rain forests.

These ranges form a common boundary

between Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, and
constitute rich evergreen, semi-evergreen and
 moist deciduous forests.

31. Nawegaon- Maharashtra

Nagzira
32. Bor Maharashtra
33. Anamalai Tamil Nadu
34. Kalakad- Tamil Nadu 2nd largest protected area in TN after
Mundanthurai sathyamangalam. this is also a part of
Agasthyakoordam Biosphere reserve.......
Habitat use by the grey junglefowl (Gallus
sonneratii) at Mundanthurai platea
35. Mudumalai Tamil Nadu  Part of Nilgiri biosphere reserve.
 It shares its boundaries with the states
of Karnataka and Kerala.
 One with the largest density of
leopards
 There are three main types of forest in
the sanctuary: tropical moist deciduous
occur in the western Block. Tropical dry
deciduous forest occurs in the middle
and southern tropical dry thorn forests
are in the east.
36. Sathyamangala Tamil Nadu It is a significant wildlife corridor in the Nilgiri
m Biosphere Reserve between the Western Ghats
and the rest of the Eastern Ghats .
Vegetation: There are five distinct forest types:
tropical evergreen (Shola), semi-evergreen,
mixed-deciduous, dry deciduous and thorn
forests.
These forests are home to indigenous tribal
people belonging largely to the Irula tribe (also
known as the Urali) and Soliga communities
37. Periyar Kerala Forms the major watershed of two important
rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and Pamba. A
national park, elephant reserve and tiger
reserve.
It is located high in the Cardamom Hills and
Pandalam Hills of the southern Western Ghats
along the border with Tamil Nadu.
The highest peak is the 2,019 m (6,624 ft) high
Kottamalai. The Periyar and Pamba Rivers
originate in the forests of the reserve.
The sanctuary surrounds Periyar Lake, a
reservoir measuring 26 km2 (10 sq mi) which
 was formed when the Mullaperiyar Dam was
erected in 1895.
The park is made up of tropical evergreen and
moist deciduous forests, grasslands, stands of
eucalyptus, and lake and river ecosystems.[6]
There are many hundreds of flowering plant
taxa, including about 171 species of grass and
140 species of orchids
The grasses are found in the open
grasslands found on the edges of the water
body where fire resistant vegetation grows and
dense grasses like elephant grass are found.
Besides elephants, royal bengal tigers, Other
mammals include the gaur, sambar, wild pig,
Indian giant squirrel, Travancore flying
squirrel, jungle cat, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr,
lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Salim
Ali's fruit bat, stripe-necked mongoose, and
Nilgiri marten.
38. Parambikulam Kerala Lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri tahr, elephants,
Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, wild boar,
sambar, bonnet macaques, Nilgiri langurs,
sloth bears, Nilgiri marten small Travancore
flying squirrel and gaur.
39. Kawal Telangana
40. Amrabad Telangana
41. Nagarjunsagar Andhra Pradesh
Srisailam (part)*
42. Sunderbans West Bengal is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, and a
Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal, India.
The delta is densely covered by mangrove
forests, and is one of the largest reserves for
the Bengal tiger.
Sundarban has achieved its name from the
Sundari Trees (pneumatophores)

The endangered species that lives within the

Sundarbans are royal Bengal tiger, saltwater
crocodile, river terrapin, olive ridley turtle,
Ganges River dolphin, hawksbill turtle and
mangrove horseshoe crab.

The proposed Sundarbans Cetacean Diversity

Protected Area, includes the coastal waters off
 Sundarbans that host critical habitats for
endangered cetaceans; resident groups of
Bryde's whales, a newly rediscovered critical
population of Irrawaddy dolphins, Ganges River
dolphins, and humpback dolphins. Finless
porpoises, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins,
spinner dolphins, and pantropical spotted
dolphins are also found in this area.
43. Buxa West Bengal Located in the Buxa hills of the southern hilly
area of Bhutan.
Animals found include, the tiger, civet,
Elephant, Gaur (Indian bison), Pig and red
jungle fowl.
Types of forests:
Northern Dry Deciduous
Eastern Bhabar and Terai Sal
East Himalayan Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest
Sub-Himalayan Secondary Wet Mixed Forest
Eastern Sub-Montane Semi-evergreen Forest
Northern Tropical Evergreen Forest
East Himalayan Subtropical Wet Hill Forest
Moist Sal Savannah
Low alluvium
Savannah Woodland
44. Manas Assam It is a national park, UNESCO Natural World
Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an
elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in
Assam, India.
It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National
Park in Bhutan.
Golden langur, red panda are key species...
The park is known for its rare and endangered
endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed
turtle, hispid hare (assam rabbit) golden langur
and pygmy hog.

Manas is famous for its population of the wild

water buffalo.

The Manas river flows thorough the west of the

park and is the main river within it.

The name of the park is originated from the

Manas River, which is named after the serpent
goddess Manasa.
 The main vegetation types are:
Sub-Himalayan Light Alluvial Semi-Evergreen
forests in the northern parts.
East Himalayan mixed Moist and Dry
Deciduous forests (the most common type).
Low Alluvial Savanna Woodland, and
Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial
Grasslands which cover almost 50% of the
park.
45. Nameri Assam Kameng river
46. Orang Tiger Assam
Reserve
47. Kaziranga Assam hosts two-thirds of the world's great one-horned
rhinoceroses
is a World Heritage Site.
Kaziranga is home to the highest density of
tigers among protected areas in the world,
and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006.

The park is home to large breeding populations

of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp
deer.

Kaziranga has the largest population of the Wild

water buffalo anywhere accounting for about
57% of the world population

Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird

Area by BirdLife International for
conservation of avifaunal species.

Kaziranga is a vast expanse of tall elephant

grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist
broadleaf forests, crisscrossed by four major
rivers, including the Brahmaputra, and the
park includes numerous small bodies of water.
During the peak months of July and August,
three-fourths of the western region of the park is
submerged, due to the rising water level of the
Brahmaputra. The flooding causes most
animals to migrate to elevated and forested
regions outside the southern border of the
park, such as the Mikir hills.
48. Dampa Mizoram It consists of Dampa hills, Pathlawi Lunglen hill,
 Chhawrpial Hills and many others. No tiger
sighted since 1994
49. Namdapha Arunachal Pradesh It is the largest protected area in the Eastern
Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and is located in
Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India.

It is also the third largest national park in India

in terms of area.

The park harbours the northernmost lowland

evergreen rainforests in the world at 27°N
latitude.

The area is also known for extensive

Dipterocarp forests, comprising the
northwestern parts of the ecoregion of Mizoram-
Manipur-Kachin rain forests

The habitat changes with increasing altitude

from tropical moist forests to Montane forests,
temperate forests and at the higher elevations,
to Alpine meadows and perennial snow.

The park has extensive bamboo forests and

secondary forests in addition to the primary
forests.

The park is located between the Dapha bum

range of the Mishmi Hills and the
Patkai range.
50. Pakke Arunachal Pradesh This Tiger Reserve has won India Biodiversity
Award 2016 in the category of 'Conservation of
threatened species' for its Hornbill Nest
Adoption Programme.

The sanctuary is delineated by rivers in the

east, west and north.

Pakke river, Kameng river

The habitat types are lowland semi-evergreen,

evergreen forest and Eastern Himalayan
broadleaf forests.

Cane, bamboo, The forests are multi-storeyed

 and rich in epiphytic flora and woody lianas.

The vegetation is dense, with a high diversity

and density of woody lianas and climbers.

Three large cats - the Bengal tiger, Indian

leopard and clouded leopard.

The people living around the park belong to the

Nyishi community.

The Nyishi tribe uses fiber glass replicas of

hornbills beaks as their head gear and has fines
for hunting of tigers, among other regulations.

The Ghora Aabhe Society (a group of village

chiefs) was formed in 2006. A group of 12
village heads, along with the forest department,
supports conservation efforts around Pakhui
Tiger Reserve (PTR). Their work has been
widely recognised, through several awards and
articles in print media.The Ghora Aabhe enforce
customary laws, institute penalties against
hunting and logging, aid in capacity building and
spread awareness of PTR
th
51. sKamlang Tiger Arunachal Pradesh India‟s latest and 50 tiger reserve.
aReserve
h Located in Lohit dist. Named after Kamlang
y river.
a
d "Glow lake is located inside it".

Climate is tropical , sub-tropical.

vegetation: alpine vegetation, temperate and

tropical vegetation and species of bamboo and
orchids are also found.

Fauna: Besides tiger, snow leopard, clouded

leopard and leopard are also found here. Fauna
also includes civet, giant squirrel, flying squirrel
and hoolock gibbon, bengal slow lorris , Assam
macaque, stump tailed macaque, rhesus
macaque etc in primates.
 Was declared tiger reserve due to its proximity
with Namdapha tiger reserve.

Both Pakke and Namdapha are low density

tiger reserves.

Mishmi, Digaru, Mizo tribal people

Uttarakhand to get two new tiger reserves

 The Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary, which falls under the Terai Arc Landscape spanning across
India and Nepal, and the Surai Range in the Terai East division of the Uttarakhand forest
department are the two proposed tiger reserves.

According to the tiger census data released in 2015, Uttarakhand has 340 tigers making it a State with
the second highest tiger population in the country after Karnataka.

Bonnet Macaques:

 They are endemic to southern India . They are counterparts of rhesus macaques found in
northern India

Rhesus Macaques: