Ramsar Wetland Sites — Set 10
Forest & Wildlife · रामसर आर्द्रभूमि स्थल · Questions 91–100 of 160
Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, a Ramsar Wetland Site, is in which district of Uttar Pradesh?
Correct Answer: C. Raebareli
Samaspur Bird Sanctuary is located in the Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh and was designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2019. It is a complex of several small wetlands created by the Sai River. The sanctuary is an important habitat for resident and migratory waterbirds including painted storks, sarus cranes, and various ducks. It supports the livelihoods of fishing communities around the wetland.
The Sundarbans was designated as a Ramsar Site by India in which year?
Correct Answer: D. 2019
The Indian Sundarbans in West Bengal was designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2019. It is the world's largest mangrove forest and covers approximately 4,263 sq km in India. The Sundarbans is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger which has uniquely adapted to swimming and living in tidal mangroves. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is part of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve.
India has 75 Ramsar sites as of 2023. What is the total area covered by these sites approximately?
Correct Answer: C. 13 lakh hectares
India's 75 Ramsar Wetland Sites together cover approximately 13 lakh (1.3 million) hectares as of 2023. This represents a significant portion of India's total wetland area. The Ramsar sites include some of the most ecologically important wetlands ranging from high-altitude Himalayan lakes to coastal mangroves. India has been one of the most active countries in expanding its Ramsar site network in recent years.
What does 'wise use' of wetlands mean under the Ramsar Convention?
Correct Answer: C. Sustainable utilization compatible with maintaining natural properties
Under the Ramsar Convention, 'wise use' means the sustainable utilization of wetlands for the benefit of humankind in a way that maintains the natural properties of the ecosystem. This concept balances conservation with sustainable human use and livelihoods. Wise use applies to all wetlands in a country, not just Ramsar sites. It encompasses maintaining ecological character, managing human activities sustainably, and integrating wetlands into land and water management planning.
Loktak Lake's Keibul Lamjao National Park is the last natural habitat of which endangered deer?
Correct Answer: B. Sangai (Brow-antlered Deer)
Keibul Lamjao National Park on the floating phumdis of Loktak Lake is the last natural habitat of the Sangai (Cervus eldii eldii), also known as the Brow-antlered Deer or Dancing Deer. The Sangai is the state animal of Manipur and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The deer is uniquely adapted to walking on the floating phumdis. Sangai population has recovered to about 250-300 individuals due to conservation efforts.
Pulicat Lake, India's second-largest saltwater lake after Chilika, is shared between which two states?
Correct Answer: A. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
Pulicat Lake is shared between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. About 84% of the lake lies in Andhra Pradesh, while the remaining part is in Tamil Nadu. The lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a barrier island called Sriharikota, which is also the site of ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Pulicat Lake is an important habitat for flamingos, pelicans, and migratory waders.
The National Wetland Atlas of India was prepared by which organization?
Correct Answer: B. Space Applications Centre, ISRO
The National Wetland Atlas of India was prepared by the Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Using satellite remote sensing data, the atlas mapped and classified all wetlands of India larger than 2.25 hectares. The atlas identified 757,060 wetlands covering approximately 15.26 million hectares. The atlas is an important tool for conservation planning and monitoring changes in wetland extent over time.
Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, a Ramsar Site in Gujarat, is located near which city?
Correct Answer: C. Jamnagar
Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is located near Jamnagar in Gujarat and was designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2021. It is a unique wetland that contains both freshwater and saline habitats. The sanctuary attracts over 300 species of birds including flamingos, pelicans, and various waders. It is located near the Marine National Park of the Gulf of Kutch.
Beas Conservation Reserve in Punjab was designated as a Ramsar site primarily to protect which species?
Correct Answer: C. Indus River Dolphin
Beas Conservation Reserve in Punjab was established and designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2019 primarily to protect the Indus River Dolphin (Platanista indus). This subspecies is restricted to the Indus River system in Pakistan and India. The Beas Conservation Reserve is the only habitat of Indus Dolphins in India. The conservation of this species is critical as it is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
How many Ramsar Wetland Sites did India have when it first joined the convention in 1982?
Correct Answer: B. 2
India had 2 Ramsar Wetland Sites when it joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982 — Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Rajasthan), both designated in 1981. These were India's first two Ramsar sites. Over the decades, the number grew to 6 by 2000, 26 by 2016, 42 by 2020, and 75 by 2023. The significant increase in recent years reflects India's commitment to wetland conservation.