31 Jan 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 12th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting
2. Ramsar Sites in India

1. 12th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting

Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations

Mains: India – Oman relations

Context:

The Defence Secretary co-chaired the 12th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee meeting at Muscat.

Details:

• During the meeting, both sides reviewed and appreciated the robust defence cooperation between India and Oman.
• New areas of cooperation in the fields of training, Joint exercise, Information sharing, Oceanography, Ship Building & MRO were explored during the meeting.
• This is expected to build mutual trust and interoperability between militaries of both nations. 
• They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared interest.
• Both sides agreed to take forward the defence partnership with a focus on defence industries collaboration.

2. Ramsar Sites in India

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment

Prelims: Ramsar sites, Ramsar Convention

Mains: Conservation of wetlands

Context:

India increases its tally of Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) to 80 by adding Five more wetlands to the list on the eve of World Wetlands Day 2024 (2nd February).

Details:

India has increased its tally of Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) to 80 from the existing 75 by designating five more wetlands as Ramsar sites.

What are the newly designated Ramsar sites?

1. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve – Karnataka
2. Aghanashini Estuary – Karnataka
3. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve – Karnataka
4. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu
5. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest – Tamil Nadu

Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve

• It is a humanmade Village Irrigation Tank built centuries back and is spread over an area of 98.76ha (244.04 acres) adjoining the Ankasamudra village in Karnataka.
• It comprises over 210 species of plants, 8 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 240 species of birds, 41 species of fishes, 3 species of frogs, 27 species of butterflies and 32 species of odonates. 
• Over 30’000 waterbirds nest and roost at this wetland, which also supports more than 1% of the biogeographic population of Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) and Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus).
• It is very rich in biodiversity.

Aghanashini Estuary

• It is formed at the confluence of the Aghanashini River with the Arabian Sea. 
• Its brackish water provides diverse ecosystem services including flood and erosion risk mitigation, biodiversity conservation and livelihood support.
• It offers livelihoods to 6000-7500 families by supporting fishing, agriculture, collection of edible bivalves and crabs, shrimp aquaculture, traditional fish farming in the estuarine rice fields (locally known as Gazni rice fields), bivalve shell collection and salt production. 
• It supports waterbird species such as the river tern, oriental darter, lesser black-backed gull, woolly-necked stork, Eurasian oystercatcher and others.

Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve:

• It is a human-made wetland constructed to store rainwater for irrigation purposes.
• It is home to over 166 species of birds, of which 130 are migratory. 
• The wetland harbours two vulnerable species, namely Common pochard (Aythya ferina) and River tern (Sterna aurantia) and four near-threatened species, namely Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) and Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala).
• It is one of the largest wintering grounds for the Bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) in South India.
• It is also a designated Important Bird Area.

Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary:

• This is one of the largest inland wetlands of Tamil Nadu.
• About 198 species of birds have been recorded here; some of the important visitors are the Bar-headed Goose, Pin-tailed duck, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Eurasian Wigeon, Common teal and Cotton teal.
• The wetland is also an important source of groundwater recharge.

Longwood Shola Reserve Forest:

• These forested wetlands serve as habitats for the globally endangered Black-chinned Nilgiri Laughing thrush (Strophocincla cachinnans), Nilgiri Blue Robin (Myiomela major), and vulnerable Nilgiri Wood-pigeon (Columba elphinstonii).
• 14 out of 26 endemic bird species of the Western Ghats are found in these wetlands.

Read previous PIB articles here.