India has added two bird sanctuaries from Bihar, Nagi and Nakti – to the ‘Ramsar Sites’ list, taking the tally to 82. The newest ‘Wetlands of International Importance’, both man-made reservoirs situated in the Jhajha forest range of Jamui District in Bihar, were added to Ramsar Sites as part of World Environment Day‌, observed annually on June 5.

About Nagi and Nakti Bird Sanctuary

These two new wetlands are man-made reservoirs situated in the Jhajha forest range of Jamui. Their catchments feature dry deciduous forests surrounded by hills,” the Secretary of the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC) of Bihar

History of Nakti Bird Sanctuary

The Nakti Bird Sanctuary was developed primarily for irrigation through the construction of Nakti Dam. Since the dam’s construction, the wetland and its surrounding area have provided habitat for over 150 species of birds, mammals, fish, aquatic plants, reptiles and amphibians. They include globally threatened species, including the endangered Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) and a vulnerable native catfish (Wallago attu).

About Ramsar Site

A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, also known as The Convention on Wetlands, an international environmental treaty signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of UNESCO.