The Only 5 Marine National Park and Water Sanctuaries of India India boasts of several marine national parks which are hotspots of bio-diversity and home to a number of marine creatures including Olive Ridley sea turtles, saltwater crocodile and a medium-sized marine mammal known as Dugong. Water sanctuaries of India include Bhitarkanika National Park, Sundarbans National Park and Rani Jhansi Marine National Park. These are swamp or large mangroves forests in India. Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park Marine National Park in Gulf of Kutch is situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of Kutch in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It is the first national marine park of India with 42 islands on Jamnagar coast in the Marine National Park. Some popular islands:- Poshitra, Pirotan, Karubhar and This is a fragile Ecosystem. Narara. Flora/Fauna:-Coral Lichen, Sea Slug, Painted Storks, Shelled Mollusks, Octopus. This national park is the 1stmarine wildlife sanctuary and the 1st marine national park in India. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is a national park of India on the Andaman Islands, situated 29 kms. from Port Blair. Most of the coral reefs in the park are fringing reefs and the park is an important breeding ground for turtles. It is also Known as WandoorNational Page 1 of 45 Established in 1983 Park. Jolly Buoy and Red Skin Islands: Open Jolly Buoy and Red skin Islands are for tourists. famous islands out of the 15 islands in this national park. This National park is covered with Tropical Forest. Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary Gahirmatha is the first and the only marine sanctuary of Orissa, number of marvellous creatures including Olive Ridley sea turtles migrate here in huge numbers. Gahirmatha Beach separates the Bhitarkanika Mangroves from the Bay of Bengal and is the world’s most important nesting beach for Olive It is the biggest nesting ground for olive Ridley Sea Turtles. Ridley Turtles in the world. In 1997:- Govt declared Gahirmatha as marine sanctuary to save turtles. Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park consists of 21 small islands and coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean of Tamil Nadu. The park has a high diversity of plants and animals in its marine and shore habitats. Dugong (Sea Cow), a vulnerable marine mammal is also found here. Malvan Marine Wildlife Sanctuary Malvan Marine Sanctuary is the only Rich in Salt that is why named as Malvan. marine sanctuary located in Malvan Taluka of Sindhudurg district in Page 2 of 45 Konkan region of Maharashtra. The Malvan Wildlife Sanctuary includes Padamged Island and other submerged rocky structures. Note:-Maharashtra government last year has declared the area along Thane Creek as Flamingo Sanctuary. It should be noted that this Sanctuary is Maharashtra’s second marine sanctuary after Malvan (Marine) Wildlife Sanctuary which was declared in 1987. Ramsar Partner Organizations: Motto Partnership for Nature and People Formation 1922 Type NGO is a global partnership of conservation organisations that Purpose Conservation strives to conserve birds, their habitats and Headquarters Cambridge, United global biodiversity, working Kingdom with people towards sustainability in the use of Regions Africa, Americas, Asia, natural resources. It is the served Europe and Central Asia, world's largest partnership of Pacific conservation organisations, with over 120 partner It is widely recognized as the world leader in Bird organisations. Conservation. Page 3 of 45 International organisation working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, lobbying and education. IUCN's mission is to "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically International Union for sustainable." Conservation of Nature It was created in 1948, and is world’s largest and H.Q.-Switzerland most diverse environmental network. Formation 1985 Type Non profit research organisation Sri Lanka (Colombo - Location Headquarters); India (Hyderabad, It is a nonprofit research New Delhi); Pakistan (Lahore); organisation with headquarters Laos (Vientiane); Nepal inColombo, Sri Lanka, and (Kathmandu); Uzbekistan offices across Africa and Asia. (Tashkent); South Africa Research at the Institute (Pretoria); Ghana (Accra); focuses on improving how Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) water and land resources are managed, with the aim of Vision:- “A water-secure world” underpinning food security and reducing poverty while safeguarding vital environmental processes. International non-governmental organisation founded in 1961, working in the field of the wilderness preservation, and the reduction of humanity's footprint on the environment. It was formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States. It is the world's largest conservation World Wide Fund for Nature Page 4 of 45 H.Q.- Morges, Switzerland organisation with over 5 million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300conservation and environmental projects. Global organisation that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity. It is an independent, not-for-profit, global organisation, supported by government and NGO membership from around the world. Based mostly in the developing world, it has 20 regional, national or project offices in all continents and a head office in Ede, the Netherlands. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is a conservation charity that saves wetlands, which are essential for life itself. Wetlands are the primary source of drinking water for people and wildlife. The WWT was founded in 1946 by the ornithologist and artist Sir Peter Scott as the Severn Wildfowl Trust. The WWT was instrumental in saving the nēnē from the brink of extinction in the 1950s. IUCN Red list was also created by Sir peter Scott Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Ramsar Convention on Wetlands International treaty for “the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands”. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran. nd The Convention was signed on 2 of February, 1971. The 2nd of February each year is World Wetlands Day. Number of parties to the convention (COP) is169. At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands. Wise use: maintenance of ecological character within the context of sustainable development. The Montreux Record Page 5 of 45 The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List. International Organisation Partners The Ramsar Convention works closely with six other organizations known as International Organisation Partners (IOPs). These are: 1. Birdlife International 2. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 3. International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 4. Wetlands International 5. WWF 6. International Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Other Partners Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), World Heritage Convention (WHC) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Jammu And Kashmir The largest freshwater lake in India. 1. Wular Lake Situated on the Jhelum River. Lake basin was formed as a result of tectonic activity. 2. Tsomoriri A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level. 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 Page 6 of 45 (Ovisammonhodgsoni) and Tibetan Wild Ass (Equus kiang) are endemic to the Tibetan plateau, of which the Changthang is the westernmost part. Largest of the high altitude lake which is entirely within India. 3. Surinsar-Mansar Located in Jammu, Holy site. Lakes Surinsar and Mansar lakes are reffered as twin lakes. 4. Hokersar Wetland Hokersar wetland is only 10 km away from Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar. Waterfowl species like Large Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Little Cormorant, Common Shelduck, Tufted Duck and endangered White-eyed Pochard, coming from Siberia, China, Central Asia, and Northern Europe. Himachal Pradesh A water storage reservoir created in 1975 on the 1. Pong Dam Lake Beas River in the low foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic plain. 2. Renuka Lake 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. Crimson-breasted barbet, Mayna, Bulbul, Pheasants, Egrets, Herons, Mallards and Lapwing. Among ungulates Sambhar, Barking deer and Ghorals are also abundant in the area. Named after Goddess Renuka the mother of Hindu sage Parshuram. Largest natural Lake of Himachal Pradesh. 3. Chandra Tal Located in Spiti part of Lahaul- Spitidistrict of Himachal Pradesh. Punjab An important site for breeding, wintering and 1. Harike staging birds, supporting over 200,000 Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans, etc.) during migration. Also known as Hari-Ke-Pattan At Harike Beas River meets Satluz. Largest Wetland in Northern India. Page 7 of 45 2. Ropar Wetland A human made wetland of lake and river formed by the 1952 construction of a barrage for diversion of water from the Sutlej River for drinking and irrigation supplies. The site is an important breeding place for the nationally protected Smooth Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Sambar, and several reptiles, and the endangered Indian Pangolin (Maniscrassicaudata) is thought to be present. 3. Kanjali Man-made wetland and was created in 1870.