Gujarat Wetland Joins Elite Global Conservation List

A rare desert wetland in Gujarat's Kachchh district just earned its place among the world's most treasured natural sites. On January 31, Chhari-Dhandh Wetland Conservation Reserve became India's newest Ramsar Site, joining an elite list of wetlands recognized for international importance.

The 22,700-hectare reserve is where three landscapes meet: desert, grassland, and wetland. This rare combination creates a haven for wildlife that draws visitors from 52 countries, with 80% of tourists coming from Nordic nations, the United States, and the UK.

The numbers tell an incredible story. Over 50,000 waterbirds winter here annually, including more than 40,000 cranes gathered at a single site. Scientists have documented 283 bird species in the area, including 11 globally threatened species.

Among them is the Grey Hypocolius, a bird so rare that spotting it brings birdwatchers from around the world. Last April, between 500 and 600 of these remarkable birds appeared in the reserve at once.

Gujarat's conservation work started paying off long before this recognition. Designated as the state's first Conservation Reserve in 2008, Chhari-Dhandh has benefited from nearly two decades of habitat protection, ecological monitoring, and community involvement.

Today, the reserve records the highest bird diversity in Kachchh district, with 187 species accounting for over 35% of all bird species found in Gujarat. That diversity reflects healthy ecosystems doing what they're meant to do.

The Ripple Effect

Chhari-Dhandh sits on the Central Asian Flyway, a superhighway in the sky connecting Central Asia with the Indian subcontinent. Each winter, exhausted birds arriving from Siberia, Iran, and Central Asia find food and rest here before continuing their journeys.

By protecting this single wetland, Gujarat is supporting migratory birds across an entire hemisphere. The reserve now serves as a model for how desert regions can balance conservation with community needs, encompassing 12 villages within its boundaries.

The international recognition means more than a certificate. It signals that India's conservation approach works and that local efforts can have global significance.

For the communities living around Chhari-Dhandh, the designation brings pride and economic opportunity through ecotourism. For the planet, it means one more critical habitat is now protected for generations to come.