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4.5.11. Criteria for Identification of Wetlands of National Importance


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).