News Highlights
Recognised as the “bird village” following community driven conservation efforts, Menar in Udaipur district is set to be notified as Rajasthan’s new wetland. The move is expected to help the Menar Udaipur’s Bird Village get the Ramsar site status under the Ramsar convention, 1971.
Focus Points
- The State government’s Forest Department has initiated the process for notification of Menar as a wetland
- which will recognise its role in the storage of sediment and nutrients and enable the local authorities to maintain the Brahma and Dhandh lakes.
- The two lakes in the village – the Brahma and Dhandh – play host to a large number of migratory birds in the winter season every year.
- With the status of wetland, the two lakes, strengthened for increasing vegetation of aquatic plants and protecting biodiversity.
- At present, Rajasthan has two wetlands recognised as Ramsar sites – Keoladeo Ghana in Bharatpur district and Sambhar Salt Lake in Jaipur district.
- More than 150 species of local and migratory birds inhabit the two lakes in the winter season.
- They include greater flamingo, white-tailed lapwing, pelican, marsh harrier, bar headed goose, common teal, greenshank, pintail, wagtail, green sandpiper and red-wattled lapwing.
What is a Wetland?
As per the Ramsar Convention, a wetland is defined as ‘areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tides does not exceed six meters’.
Menar Udaipur’s Bird Village
- Location
- Menar which resides at a distance of around 52 km from Udaipur in Rajasthan
- Menar Lake in the village witnesses many migratory birds especially in the winter season and that makes it the ideal destination for the bird watchers around the city.
- Migratory Birds visit Menar include
- Greater Flamingo, White-Tailed Lapwing, Pelican, Marsh Harrier, Black Kite, Green Sandpiper, Wood sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Red-wattled Lapwing, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Common Crane, Bar Headed Goose and many more!
- Community driven Conservation in Menar
- The villagers made some fair attempts to save the fishes of the lake.
- In order to ensure a healthy ecosystem people of Menar village have stopped using the water of the lakes for irrigation purpose
- And also fishing is prohibited in the lake and regular weeding is done to get rid of water hyacinth overgrowth.
- They have also set up a group of volunteers known as ‘Pakshi Mitra’ who ensure a safe stay for the flying visitors.
- From rescuing injured birds to conducting regular anti-poaching patrols, these volunteers have set a benchmark to conserve the ecosystem of the village
Pic Courtesy: The Hindu, freepik
Content Source – The Hindu