In a major development, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday, February 17, cleared the proposal for designating the biodiversity rich Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) as a Ramsar site, as per the Ramsar Convention to the Centre.
This decision was taken as it attract tourists from home and abroad for birdwatching. It will also provide employment to the locals by boosting eco-tourism, said Thackeray, in an official statement.
As per the procedure, the proposal file will be submitted to the Union Environment Ministry for further consideration and approval, said officials.
If approved by the centre, TCFS, spread over 1,690.5 hectares, will be the first such site in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), while the third in Maharashtra to be designated as a Ramsar site and a Wetlands of International Importance.
Reports stated that an area of approximately 65 sq kms of the Thane Creek is proposed to be identified as Ramsar area. While 17 sq kms is reserved forest, the remaining 48 sq kms was notified as an environmentally sensitive area in October last year.
For those unversed, on December 9, 2021, State Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray had cleared the said proposal for final approval from the Chief Minister.
Nandur Madhameshwar, reserved forest in Nashik district, was the first designated Ramsar site from Maharashtra in January 2020. Lonar lake in Buldhana district was declared as the 41st Ramsar site of India and second in the state in November 2020.
What is Ramsar Wetland Area?
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
Areas identified as Ramsar sites are protected under the Ramsar Convention, a treaty signed by multiple countries for international cooperation towards the conservation of wetlands.
It is named after Ramsar city in Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971.
Under the agreement, 168 countries of the world have come together and are protecting a total of 2,177 wetlands in these countries. These regions cover 27 places in India. Maharashtra government is making efforts to include prominent locations in Ramsar wetland area.
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