Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah district, Uttar Pradesh and Chhari-Dhand in Kutch district, Gujarat have been added to India’s Ramsar network, strengthening the country’s commitment to wetland conservation. The announcement was made by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on 31 January 2026. The two wetlands support hundreds of migratory and resident bird species and are also habitats for wildlife such as chinkara, wolves, caracal, desert cats, desert foxes, along with several endangered bird species.
India is a Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, and India became a signatory on 1 February 1982. The newly designated sites highlight India’s growing role in internationally recognised wetland conservation and management efforts.
