Four Nepal wetlands declared Ramsar sites

Kathmandu, Sep 24 (UNI) Four high altitude wetlands in Nepal have been declared Ramsar sites.

The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The new sites took the number of declared Ramsar wetlands in the country to eight. The other four sites are situated in the terai region.

In a statement, Secretary General of Ramsar Convention Secretariat Anada Tiega said the listing is an outstanding and tangible contribution to the conservation and sustainable use of high altitude wetlands of the world.

The four new high altitude wetlands included in the Ramsar sites are -- Gokyo of Sagarmatha National Park, Shey-Phoksundo of Dolpa, Rara Lake of Mugu, and Gosaikunda of Rauswa, Kantipuronline reported.

Mr Tiega appreciated Nepal's contribution to conservation work.

The declaration of high altitude wetlands will help foster national and regional strategies to tackle climate change impacts on glacial wetlands ecosystem, he said.

Anil Manandhar, country representative of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) hailed the declaration of four new Ramsar Sites, saying it was a great achievement in the field of conservation.

The four wetlands, which are already included in the Ramsar sites are -- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Ghodaghodi Taal in Kailali, Bishajari Taal in Chitwan and Jagdishpur Reservoir in Kapilvastu.

UNI