Arunachal Pradesh Secures India's 101st Ramsar Site Designation

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh just landed its first Ramsar site. Glaw Lake is officially India's 101st wetland of international importance. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav confirmed the news on Monday. The move aims to bolster water security, protect local biodiversity, and support sustainable livelihoods.

Yadav posted the update on X. He stated, "Delighted to announce Glaw Lake as Arunachal Pradesh's first Ramsar Site — a significant milestone for biodiversity, water and climate security, and sustainable livelihoods." This freshwater ecosystem sits in the Eastern Himalayas.

Perennial mountain streams feed the lake. Dense vegetation surrounds the water. Surveyors recorded over 150 tree species and 49 orchid varieties in the area. These findings highlight the site's high ecological value. The Ramsar Convention, which began in 1971, mandates that countries must establish strict management frameworks for these protected zones. Officials expect this designation to improve long-term preservation efforts for the lake and the communities that rely on it.