New Delhi : Khijadiya sanctuary in Jamnagar district, achieved esteemed Ramsar site status. Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary in Jamnagar district has achieved a new Ramsar site status on the occasion of World Wetlands Day. In order to raise global awareness about the role of wetlands for the people as well as the earth, February 2 is celebrated as World Wetlands Day every year, in connection with the signing of the Ramsar Treaty on the importance of wetlands at the international level in the city of Ramsar, Iran. At a function held at Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram, Haryana in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar and other dignitaries, resident commissioner Aarti Kanwar on behalf of Gujarat government received a certificate from Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav regarding Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary as a new Ramsar site. The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary swims apart in an area of 6.05 km as it has freshwater lakes, salt and freshwater puddles. Before the independence of the country, a check dam was built to stop the flow of Ruparel river water into the sea. Over the years, a separate area was created with rain and fresh river water on one side and brackish sea water on the other. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is located at the confluence of Ruparel river and Kalindri river on the north east coast of Jamnagar district in the Gulf of Kutch and therefore has a very special and distinct ecosystem.
When Salim Ali, a well-known Indian ornithologist, visited the Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary in the year 1984, it was reported that 104 species of birds were discovered in one day. Apart from Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary, Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh was also given Ramsar site status. On this occasion, the geographical map of the wetland space application center in India was also unveiled.
