Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government has decided to constitute Lake Management Committees to ensure management and conservation of wetlands in Goa.
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Total 45 water bodies are identified to be notified as wetlands in phase manner.
Addressing mediapersons on Monday, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said that the State Wetland Authority during its Board meeting has resolved to constitute Lake Management Committees comprising of local community members from the areas where the wetlands are notified.
“It is not possible for the government to keep a check on every wetland. Hence, it was decided to appoint Lake Management Committee who will see the management, conservation and restoration of the wetland. The State government will provide all the funding and assistance,” he said.
Cabral said that of the total 45 identified water bodies; nine have been notified as wetland while draft notification is issued with regards to 17 water bodies.
“Nine more water bodies are in process of getting wetland recognition,” he said.
After Goa got its first Ramsar site – the Nanda Lake in Curchorem, the Authority is in process of recommending more sites for Ramsar recognition, the Minister said.
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).
