New Delhi/Lucknow: India has achieved a major environmental milestone with the designation of the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district as the country’s 100th Ramsar Site, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday.
The sanctuary, popularly known as Surha Tal, has been recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, a global treaty for wetland conservation adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
Announcing the development, Prime Minister Modi described the achievement as a significant moment for India’s conservation efforts.
“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,” the Prime Minister said in a post on social media platform X.
He noted that the wetland is renowned for its rich avifaunal biodiversity and serves as a habitat for numerous migratory and resident bird species. Modi said the recognition reflects India’s continued commitment to protecting wetlands and preserving ecological balance.
The Prime Minister highlighted that conservation efforts across the country have been strengthened through scientific management, technological innovation, public awareness campaigns and greater participation of local communities.
With this recognition, Surha Tal becomes the 13th Ramsar Site in Uttar Pradesh, further enhancing the state’s environmental significance.
During a World Environment Day programme in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Forest Minister Arun Kumar Saxena presented the Ramsar designation certificate to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
India joined the Ramsar Convention on February 1, 1982, and has steadily expanded its network of internationally recognised wetlands. Ramsar Sites are considered crucial for biodiversity conservation, water security, climate resilience and sustainable development.
The designation requires participating countries to establish management frameworks aimed at preserving the ecological character of these wetlands while promoting their sustainable use.
The inclusion of Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary in the prestigious list marks another step in India’s efforts to safeguard critical ecosystems and protect habitats that support diverse wildlife populations.
