Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh designated as India’s 99th Ramsar site

Key facts

• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the designation of Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary as a Ramsar site.
• Located in the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, Shekha Jheel is the 12th Ramsar site in the state and the 99th in India.
• The sanctuary serves as a crucial stopover on the Central Asian Flyway, which is one of the primary migratory bird routes in the world.
• Migratory bird species recorded at the site include the Bar-headed Goose, Painted Stork, and various types of ducks.
• The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty focused on the protection and sustainable utilisation of ecologically significant wetlands.
• The designation is part of the ecosystem restoration mission led by the Prime Minister (PM) of India.
• The recognition is intended to support local livelihoods, global biodiversity, water security, and climate security while promoting eco-tourism.