Team Herald
PANJIM: Three Goan sites might soon get recognition as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention – an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
Sources said that the Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA) is in the process of identifying the sites that can be categorized as Wetlands of International Importance during the Ramsar Conference, which is scheduled to take place in the first week of October.
“It would be a proud movement for Goa. GSWA will soon zero upon the two or three sites for the international recognition,” sources said.
The aim of the Ramsar list is “to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem component, process and benefits.”
Currently, there are 46 Ramsar sites in India that include the Chilika Lake in Odisha, Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, Harike Lake in Punjab, Loktak Lake in Manipur, Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary Jhajjar.
Sources said that sites amongst those identified by GSWA expert committee for ‘Wetlands’ tag as per the Union Environment Ministry’s rule would be considered for the international recognition.
As per government record, Bondvoll Lake in St Cruz was the first to be declared as a ‘Wetland’. The draft notification has already been issued in the case of Toyaar Lake (Chimbel), Carambolim Lake (Carambolim), Batim Lake (Batim),
Dhasi Lake (Rivona), Pilerne Lake (Pilerne), Sarzora Lake (Sarzora), Durga Lake (Chinchinim), Cottambi Lake and Nanda Lake (Curchorem) and Xeldem Lake (Quepem).
More water bodies that would be included are Sulabhat Lake (Agassaim), Talaulim lake (Talaulim), Tarvalem Lake and Udden Lake (Shiroda), Mayem Lake (Bicholim), Curtorim Lake (Curtorim), Sonbem Lake (Maina), Macazana Lake (Macazana), Comunidade Lake (Guirdolim), Ambulor Lake (Verna), Kamla Tollem (Benaulim), Orlim Tollem (Orlim), Sancoale Lake (Sancoale) and Pali Lake (Quepem).
The government is in process of preparing brief documents with regards to water bodies like Curca Lake, Malebhat, Gawali–Moula and Canturlim (Curca), Banastarim Wetland (Bhoma), Parra Lake (Parra), Benaulim Lake – Vodlem Tollem and Dhakte Tollem (Benaulim), Sapu Tollem (Velim) and Maimollem Lake (Maimollem).
