Overview

• On June 4, the Union Environment Ministry confirmed that Khichan in Phalodi and Menar in Udaipur have been added to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
• Menar supports over 200 bird species each season, earning its “Bird Village” moniker with sightings ranging from Sarus cranes to Dalmatian pelicans.
• Khichan’s annual migration of more than 30,000 demoiselle cranes traces back to community-led feeding initiatives started in the 1970s.
• With these additions, Rajasthan’s Ramsar portfolio expands to four sites, joining Keoladeo Ghana National Park and Sambhar Lake.
• The designations are expected to bolster habitat protection and open new eco-tourism and employment avenues for local communities.