A Ramsar Site is a wetland site, designated to be of international importance. These wetlands are protected under strict guidelines of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands. It provides national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources. The mission of the Ramsar Convention is “Conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”. The Ramsar Convention, signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, is the only global treaty that focuses specifically on wetlands. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. Today 170 nations are signatories to the Ramsar Convention. Ramsar identifies wetlands of international importance, especially those providing waterfowl habitat. Ramsar Sites in India are declared under the Ramsar Convention, which was established by UNESCO in 1971. A site is declared as a Ramsar Wetland Site in India, if it meets any one of the nine criteria set under the Convention of Wetland. India's tally of 49 designated wetlands spread over 10,936 sq km in 18 states and two Union Territories is the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia. Till 2022, the number stood at 37, then 12 sites were added to the list including Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary and Wadhwana Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat. The book Conservation of Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary (Ramsar Site) and Bhaskarpura Wetland focuses on environmental, ecological, and biological studies of two major wetlands of Gujarat viz. Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary and Bhaskarpura Wetland, covering abiotic and biotic components, eutrophication, hydrochemistry, geochemistry, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and waterbirds. The book highlights an in-depth study of surface water and bottom sediment quality, diversity, density, abundance, commonness, rarity of plankton including qualitative and quantitative characters, diversity indices, population dynamics of waterbirds, and correlation between abiotic and biotic components. The book would unquestionably be the need of an hour for wetland managers, wetland conservationists, and policy makers or decision authorities to prevent the unrestrained exploitation of wetland biodiversity, destruction of potential wetland habitats, and uncontrolled interactions of man and technology with lentic ecosystems of the world.

The book “Biodiversity of Wetlands and Forests: A Nature Trail” focuses on biodiversity of wetlands and forests with special emphasis on field observations of plants, reptiles, birds and mammals recorded by the author in various geographical provinces of Gujarat, India. It highlights the need of biodiversity conservation, causes and concerns, exploitation of biodiversity, habitat destruction, interaction of man and technology with biodiversity, policy framework for biodiversity conservation, and wilderness and forests. Moreover, it summarizes a review on birds with special emphasis on geographical and ecological distribution of avifauna of north-western India, birds in ancient times with myths and motifs, an integral association of trees and birds, birds migration, magnetic orientation of birds, and mythological beliefs about birds. The present book covers exhaustive information on wetlands for tourism, important wetlands of national importance, wise use, characteristics and prime importance of wetlands as enduring habitats, and threats to viable wetlands. It emphasizes significant wetlands as abode for avifauna, wetlands as bird habitats, significant factors for survival of wetland birds, importance of wetlands for birds’ population, influence of wetlands on waterfowl population, wetland loss and decline of bird diversity, threats to avian habitats, and conservation and management strategies for potential avian ecosystems and legal policy framework for sustainability of waterbirds. The book is written in articulate manner citing notable sightings of some unique floral and faunal elements in the forested pockets. It encompasses archetypal records of plants, animals and birds along with their distinctive occurrence, feeding patterns, conservation, and management of threatened biodiversity, and many more. It describes some remarkable, noteworthy and astonishing sightings of species inhabiting in potential niches, habitats and ecosystems of Western India. Here, the author has shared his incidental as well as subsisting experiences in amazing habitats amidst the nature trails of forested patches and thickets. This book will undoubtedly enrich and enhance the knowledge and awareness of naturalists in the field. This book is a blend of two previously published books by the same author (Hiren B. Soni, Ph.D.) viz. ‘Biodiversity, Birds and Wetlands’, and ‘Biodiversity and Birds: A Field Journey’. This book is published to be handy and helpful to every reader and amateur of the world. Author believes that it would surely be a ready-reference for every researcher as well as nature lover in each and every corner of the world.

Collection of previously published essays on little known aspects of India's wildlife and natural history.

Study an initiative of the Lifescape Project.