Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Biodiversity
In news
The Kamrup (Metropolitan) district administration has prohibited community fishing in Deepor Beel.
It is a wetland on the south-western edge of Guwahati.
It is Assam’s only Ramsar site.
Key takeaways
The order was necessary to prevent fishing, excavation and construction in and around the wetland that has been shrinking over the years.
Deepor Beel was designated a Ramsar site in 2002 for sustaining a range of aquatic life forms besides 219 species of birds.
Important value additions
The Ramsar Convention
It was signed on 2nd February, 1971.
It is one of the oldest inter-governmental accords signed by member countries.
Objective: To preserve the ecological character of their wetlands of international importance.
It is named after Ramsar, the Iranian city where the treaty was signed.
Places chosen for conservation under it are given the tag ‘Ramsar site’.
The aim of the Ramsar list: To develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits.
