Gandhinagar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s early emphasis on ecological preservation has culminated in global recognition for Chhari-Dhandh, a distinctive wetland ecosystem located in Gujarat’s Kachchh district. The Chhari-Dhandh Wetland Conservation Reserve was formally added to the list of Ramsar Sites—wetlands of international importance—on January 31, 2026, marking a significant step in India’s environmental conservation efforts.

On Friday, Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia, representing the Forest Department, presented the Ramsar designation certificate to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar. The Chief Minister congratulated the department for securing the global status, noting that Chhari-Dhandh has become Gujarat’s fifth Ramsar Site and the first in the Kachchh region, according to a release from the Chief Minister’s Office.

Situated at the intersection of arid desert terrain and grassland ecosystems, Chhari-Dhandh supports a rare ecological landscape that draws thousands of migratory birds annually. Among them is the Grey Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus), a globally significant winter migrant. The wetland was declared Gujarat’s first Conservation Reserve in 2008, when Narendra Modi was serving as the state’s Chief Minister, under provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The decision taken nearly two decades ago reflected a long-term conservation outlook, recognising the wetland’s potential role in biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, and sustainable ecosystem management in the fragile landscape of Kachchh. Over time, Chhari-Dhandh has emerged as a major destination for birdwatchers, ecologists, and researchers from across the world.

According to global tour operators and ornithologists associated with birding trails in the region, more than 80 per cent of visitors to the reserve are international tourists, primarily from Nordic countries, the United States, and the United Kingdom. To date, visitors from over 52 countries have explored the wetland.

The Ramsar designation has further strengthened Chhari-Dhandh’s international standing, highlighting India’s commitment to wetland conservation through scientific management and global cooperation, the release said.

Ecologists identify Chhari-Dhandh as one of Asia’s most significant wetlands for migratory birds, supporting large congregations of waterfowl. Ornithological surveys conducted in the broader Banni wetland complex have recorded over 50,000 waterbirds, including sightings of more than 40,000 cranes at a single location.

Around 283 bird species have been documented in and around the Chhari-Dhandh landscape, including 11 globally threatened species and nine listed as Near Threatened, underscoring its high conservation value.

The Gujarat government formally notified Chhari-Dhandh as a Conservation Reserve in August 2008, the first such designation in the state. Since then, sustained conservation measures—including habitat protection, ecological monitoring, and community involvement—have helped maintain the wetland’s environmental health.

At present, Chhari-Dhandh records the highest avian diversity in Kachchh district, with 187 bird species, representing more than 35 per cent of Gujarat’s total bird diversity. In April 2025, surveys recorded an estimated 500 to 600 Grey Hypocolius in the reserve.

Spanning 22,700 hectares and covering 12 villages, the wetland lies at the convergence of tropical thorn forests, the Banni grasslands, and the Little Rann ecosystem. This unique ecological overlap supports diverse habitats and sustains rich plant and animal life critical to maintaining regional ecological balance.

Chhari-Dhandh was granted Ramsar status due to its rare desert wetland characteristics and outstanding ecological significance at the international level. A Ramsar Site is recognised under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and enforced in 1975, making it the world’s first global environmental agreement focused on a specific ecosystem.

To qualify for Ramsar recognition, a wetland must meet at least one of nine international criteria, based on either representational uniqueness or biodiversity importance. Chhari-Dhandh fulfilled multiple criteria due to its desert wetland nature, rich biodiversity, and critical role along the Central Asian Flyway.

The wetland supports over 180 bird species, including resident birds as well as winter and passage migrants, and serves as a vital feeding and resting ground during long migratory journeys. It is internationally known for hosting the rare Grey Hypocolius alongside several other threatened and regionally significant species.

The Ramsar listing formally acknowledges Chhari-Dhandh’s ecological importance and strengthens long-term conservation and sustainable management efforts.

The Central Asian Flyway connects breeding grounds in the Arctic and Central Asia with wintering regions in the Indian subcontinent. Gujarat, located at the southern end of this route, plays a crucial role as a wintering and stopover zone. Wetlands in Kachchh, including Chhari-Dhandh, provide essential habitats for migratory birds, the release added.

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Each winter, species such as flamingos, pelicans, cranes, ducks, waders, and the Grey Hypocolius arrive from Central Asia, Iran, and Siberia. Conservation of these wetlands is therefore critical not only for regional biodiversity but also for sustaining migratory bird populations across continents.