Context – India has added five new wetlands to the Ramsar list of international importance, totaling 80 such sites in the country. The newly designated sites include:

 Aghanashini Estuary (Karnataka):

• Supports 84 fish species, five bivalve species, 45 mangrove species, and 117 bird species.
• Important breeding ground for threatened bird species like the black-necked stork and Indian skimmer.

Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve (Karnataka):

• Human-made wetland with over 166 bird species, including 130 migratory species.
• One of the largest wintering grounds for the bar-headed goose in southern India, recognized as an Important Bird Area.

Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve (Karnataka):

• Habitat for over 200 bird species, including the painted stork, Asian openbill, and spot-billed pelican.

Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu):

• Spans 453 hectares with 200+ bird species, including the painted stork and spot-billed pelican.
• Significant breeding ground for threatened bird species like the grey-headed lapwing and Indian skimmer.

Longwood Shola Reserve Forest (Tamil Nadu):

• Covers 1223 hectares with diverse habitats, including shola grasslands, evergreen forests, and wetlands.
• Important for threatened species like the Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, and Nilgiri wood pigeon.

These additions highlight India's commitment to the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.