Team Herald
PANJIM: After Goa got its first Ramsar site – the Nanda Lake in Curchorem, the Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA) has granted its nod to nominate Raia Lake, Carambolim Lake and Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary for international recognition.
During its recent meeting, the GSWA chaired by Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral, it was discussed that the water bodies of Raia with rich flora and fauna are identified by the Technical Committee of GSWA as wetlands and could be recommended as Ramsar site.
The Authority decided to approve the same and to conduct requisite studies for the same. The meeting also decided to complete all the required formalities to nominate Carambolim Lake and Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary to be designated as the Ramsar site. The Authority also decided to write to the Forest Department, as Dr Salim Ali, the sole bird sanctuary is a protected area.
Under the Ramsar Criteria, wetlands should be selected for the Ramsar List on account of their international significance in terms of the biodiversity and uniqueness of their ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology.
Ramsar Convention is an inter-governmental global treaty that identifies wetlands around the world, which are of international importance, especially if they provide habitat to waterfowl (about 180 species of birds).
In August last year, the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) announced the inclusion of Nanda Lake -- one of the State’s biggest wetlands -- under the Ramsar Convention.