Overview
- Uttar Pradesh’s lakes and marshes along the Central Asian Flyway hosted thousands of migratory birds this season, drawing more birders and researchers.
- Officials say Shekha Jheel in Aligarh was recently named a Ramsar site, taking the state’s tally of internationally recognized wetlands to 12.
- The Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board approved 85 projects worth about Rs 282 crore to add nature trails, birding points and interpretation centers designed to limit disturbance.
- Tourism to wetland regions has climbed, with 1.06 crore people visiting the Terai last year, and ministers say the goal is to pair access with habitat protection and local jobs.
- National reporting and analysis warn many wetlands are degraded by urban growth, pollution, invasive plants and climate shifts, and urge full use of India’s CAF Action Plan and NPCA with District Wetland Committees, People’s Biodiversity Registers and year-round local stewardship.