BIRD SANCTUARIES AND RAMSAR SITES IN TAMIL NADU -
ENVIRONMENT
News: Vedanthangal,
Pulicat among four bird sanctuaries to be developed
What's in the news?
● Four
bird sanctuaries in the State, including the ones at Vedanthangal and Pulicat, will undergo integrated development at a
cost of ₹20 crore.
Key takeaways:
● The
Vedanthangal sanctuary, one of the oldest in the country, hosts around 30,000
to 40,000 birds during the migratory season.
● The
Pulicat sanctuary, which is part of both
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, will be developed at a cost of ₹3.7 crore.
● The
Koonthankulam bird sanctuary,
covering an area of 129.33 hectares at Nanguneri taluk of Tirunelveli district,
was notified as a Ramsar site in 2022. The government will spend about ₹6 crore
for ecotourism and eco-restoration work in Koonthakulam.
● The
Karaivetti sanctuary in Ariyalur
district, one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the State with a congregation
of 203 species of birds, including 82 water birds will be developed at a cost
of ₹1 crore.
Other Important Announcements:
● A
conservation center has been
announced to be set up at Pallikaranai
marshland, which was recently declared as a Ramsar site.
Pallikaranai Marshland:
● The
wetland supports a wide diversity of birds, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies
and plants.
● For
protection and conservation of this iconic place, preserving its ecological
value and ecosystem services, the government of Tamil Nadu has decided to set
up a conservation center with information education and research facilities for
students, researchers, tourists, bird watchers and people at a cost of ₹20
crore.
Ramsar Sites in Tamil Nadu: