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♤ Criteria for identification of wetlands of national importance under NWCP are same as those prescribed under the ‘Ramsar Convention on Wetlands’ and are as given below:
♤ Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types
(i) If it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.
♤ Criteria based on species and ecological communities
(ii) If it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species; or threatened ecological communities.
(iii) If it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.
(iv) If it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.
♤ Specific criteria based on water birds
(v) If it regularly supports 20,000 or more water birds.
(vi) If it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbirds.
♤ Specific criteria based on fish
(vii) If it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity.
(viii) If it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend. Specific criteria based on water/life and culture
(ix) If it is an important source of food and water resource, increased possibilities for recreation and eco- tourism, improved scenic values, educational opportunities, conservation of cultural heritage (historic or
religious sites).