Efforts underway to nominate Ujani reservoir as Ramsar site: Expert

NGO Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS), along with the Solapur Forest Division, conducted a bird count around the Ujani reservoir seeking participation from professional and amateur bird watchers from November 2024 to March 2025. The data collected through the exercise is being processed but the initial findings reveal that over 50,000 individual birds, including resident and migratory, of over 114 species were sighted during the survey period.

In this backdrop, the Solapur Forest Division is planning to nominate the Ujani reservoir as the Ramsar site for the conservation of the local ecosystem. In an interview with Shirish Shinde, WRCS Director Jayant Kulkarni speaks on the topic.

*What is the significance of a Ramsar site?

Ramsar is a city in Iran. Ramsar is an international convention under which important wetlands of the world are given recognition as a Ramsar site. The Ramsar convention was signed by all signatory countries in 1971 for protection of wetlands. Ramsar site gives international recognition to wetlands and helps in their protection.

*What are its main criteria?

The interested party, generally a government agency, has to submit an application. There are nine criteria for declaring a Ramsar site. The site has to fulfill at least one of the criteria.

*How could Ujani Reservoir fulfil those conditions?

We feel that Ujani fulfills Criterion 3- Supporting populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.

*How will it benefit in its conservation?

By declaring it as a Ramsar site, the wetland will get recognition and status. Due to this, it will be managed in a better way for water birds and other life forms. It will get government support for its protection.

*How many Ramsar sites are there in Maharashtra?

There are three Ramsar sites in Maharashtra at present: Nandur Madhmeshwar (Criterion 3-Biological diversity), Lonar Lake (Criterion 1- Rare or unique example of wetland) and Thane creek (Criterion 2- Rare species, Criterion 3-Biological diversity). Each of them has been declared a Ramsar site under different criteria.

There are currently 89 Ramsar sites in India.