Why In News?

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially designated Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh as India’s 101st Ramsar Site.  

About Glaw Lake

Location: Within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh.

Wetland Type: A high-altitude, pristine, natural freshwater lake in the Eastern Himalayas.

Hydrological Features:

  • Fed by perennial glaciated Himalayan streams, it forms the primary headwaters of the perennial Kamlang River.

  • Tectonic activity and land-block warping in the Eastern Himalayan fold belt created this natural depression storing alpine run-off.

Bioluminescence:

  • The lake displays a natural nocturnal glow caused by dinoflagellates, a type of light-emitting microalgae.

  • The lake water's unique chemical composition, featuring high concentrations of phosphates and nitrates, provides the perfect environment for these organisms to thrive.

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Biodiversity Richness

  • Flora: Catchment supports over 150 tree species (Hollong, Canarium, Rhododendron) and 49 recorded wild orchid species.

  • Four Big Cats: Rare Himalayan habitat supporting four major species: Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris), Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus), Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), and Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia).

  • Rare Primates and Mammals: Forest corridor supports endangered species, including Hoolock Gibbon, Slow Loris, Capped Langur, Red Panda, and Mishmi Takin.

  • Avifauna: Wintering grounds for water birds, including critically endangered white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis) and over 20 species of reptiles and amphibians.

Ramsar Convention

  • Origin: Established on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. India joined in 1982.

  • Objective: Prevents global wetland loss and promotes the "wise use" of wetlands to sustain biological diversity.

  • Global Reach: Includes over 2,531 sites covering 2.6 million square kilometers

  • Designation Criteria: Sites must support vulnerable or endangered species, maintain regional biological diversity, and provide critical hydrological services like groundwater recharge and flood prevention.

India’s Ramsar Network Status

  • Global Standing: India ranks first in Asia and third globally for the number of protected wetlands, trailing only the UK and Mexico.

  • First Sites: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)  

  • Largest Site: Sunderban Wetland (West Bengal) at 423,000 hectares.

  • Smallest Sites: Renuka Wetland (Himachal Pradesh) and Vembannur Wetland Complex (Tamil Nadu) at 20 hectares each.

  • State Leader: Tamil Nadu holds the highest count with 20 sites.

  • Unique Sites: Lonar Lake (Maharashtra) (meteorite-impact crater) and Loktak Lake (Manipur) (world’s only floating park).