GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh’s Glaw Lake has been designated as India’s 101st Ramsar Site, becoming the state’s first wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav announced on Monday.Located within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in Lohit district, the pristine freshwater lake is a biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Himalayas.Fed by perennial mountain streams, the lake is surrounded by dense forests and rich vegetation. More than 150 tree species and 49 orchid species have been recorded within the site and its catchment area.Announcing the recognition, Yadav said the designation marks a significant milestone for biodiversity conservation, water and climate security, and sustainable livelihoods in Arunachal Pradesh.The minister said the addition of Glaw Lake has taken the number of Ramsar Sites in India to 101, up from 26 in 2014. He attributed the expansion to the country’s growing emphasis on wetland conservation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.Sites designated under the convention are recognised for their ecological significance and the vital ecosystem services they provide, including flood regulation, groundwater recharge, carbon storage and habitat for diverse flora and fauna.
