Lake Tsomoriri, a crucial Ramsar site under threat from tourism, shows WWF case study

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Drawing stark contrast to the official response at 11th Conference of the Contracting Parties (CoP) to Ramsar Convention taking place in Romania, a WWF case study published by the convention shows that Lake Tsomoriri which is crucial for the breeding of highly threatened Black-necked Crane, Grus nigricollis is under threat from unrestricted tourism activities. 

Lake Tsomoriri
©Pankaj Chandan / WWF-India

The revelation comes at loggerheads to the official report submitted by India to the convention that the condition of Ramsar sites in the country has not changed except some improvements. According to the National Report on the Implementation of The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands submitted by India, there has been no change in the ecological condition of the wetlands in the country, especially Ramsar sites during the last three years. 

“Some of the wetlands have improved in its ecological character through management interventions like Chilka Lake in Orissa by opening up of mouth to allow flushing of saline water which not only helped in increasing fisheries potential, decreasing weeds but also enhanced tourism in the area, directly helping communities to raise their socio-economic status.”, says the National Report on the Implementation of The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands submitted at the convention.

However, according to the case study, the 120 km2 wide lake situated at an altitude of 4595 meters in a critical area in the migration routes of some 40 species of birds is plagued by tourist facilities built around the site without the necessary EIAs. 

Black-necked Crane
©Pankaj Chandan / WWF-India

Moreover, the site known to be the breeding ground of highly threatened birds like Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) and Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) is crowded by tourists right during the breeding season. Due to the unplanned tourist activities, “tourism camps have been located in areas where there is a high risk of disturbing wildlife” and “wastes, pollution, and environmental damage are increasing around trekking routes and campsites”, says the study.  

The region which is also supporting rare mammals like Himalayan blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Tibetan argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni), Kiang (Equus kiang), Tibetan Wolf (Canis lupus chanko), Lynx (Lynx isabellina), and Snow leopard (Uncia uncia) has become more accessible with the presence of a metaled road. 

Tourist operators often arrange jeep safari for the tourists which according to the case study, has caused “off-road driving of jeeps over the pastures causing soil compaction and damage to vegetation, reducing productivity, and opening the fragile soils to erosion. There are also reports of jeeps being used to chase kiangs and other species.”

According to an estimate, at least 20,000 tourists, both domestic and foreign, visit the lake in a year, but often the local community of nomadic shepherds called Changpas is not benefitted. Instead, the pastures for their cattle are grazed by horse packs accompanying the tourists, which results in social tension, says the study.

Lake Tsomoriri, 
©Pankaj Chandan / WWF-India

Read more on Ramsar CoP11 coverage by IBT

India will add 25 wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites in next three years

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According to the an official report submitted to the ongoing 11^th meeting of the conference of contracting parties to the Ramsar convention for protecting wetlands, India will add 25 more wetlands to the list of internationally important wetlands in the country within the next three years. Presently 25 wetlands have been identified as wetlands of international importance from india.

The country, which is a party to the convention has identified 115 important wetlands in the country so far and has implemented a National Wetland conservation Programme for the conservation of these sites. Of late, according to official communication, 24 more sites are added to this list.

Lake Tsomoriri
Credit: ©Pankaj Chandan / WWF-India

It was India’s obligation to add 25 wetlands as Ramsar sites of international importance, as per the conditions of the CoP – 7 which was held in Costa Rica in 1999. Presently, 6 more sites are in the process of getting designated as wetlands of international importance. The country has expressed hopes to “designate at least 25 more Ramsar sites during the next triennium”.

Moreover, the authorities will try to notify at least 500 wetlands in the region for putting up regulations to save the degrading ecosystems of the wetlands.

Presently, five among the 25 Ramsar sites in India support globally threatened species which include Cervus IIdi IIdi in loktak and Irrawadi dolphin found in Chilika Lake. Wetland areas in Keladeo National park is known for supporting critically endangered Siberian Crane. However, according to official response, this rare migratory bird has not been recorded from the area for the last few years, with the last record is of 2 individuals in 1999. Royal Bengal Tiger in Sunderbans and black necked Crane in Tso Murari in Jammu and Kashmir are some other threatened species supported by Ramsar sites in India.

Goliath Heron, which is expected to have just 20 individuals in South East Asia is also recorded from some of the Ramsar sites in India. Oriental Darter, Painted Stork, Blanck-neck stork, Black-headed ibis, Lesser Flamingo, Ferruginous Duchm Beach Thick-knee, Asian Dowitcher, Black-bellied Tern, Grey headed Fishing Eagle and Pallid Harrier were also recorded from some of these conserved areas.

According to the official response in the document, government is finding it difficult to change the mindset of the managers while sectorial approach is another major bottleneck in implementing the terms of the convention. Lack of infrastructure, expertise and man power is another major bottleneck faced by some Indian states in Ramsar conservation. 



Read more on Ramsar CoP11 coverage by IBT