Rajasthan's Menar bird village will become a wetland

Rajasthan's Menar bird village  will become a wetland

Menar village of Udaipur district, which is recognized as a bird village, has been decided to be notified as a new wetland of Rajasthan. This will pave the way for this rural area of Mewar region to get the status of Ramsar site.

Manar Wetland

The two lakes of Menar village- Brahma and Dhandha host a large number of migratory birds every year. The Forest Department has started the process of notifying Menar as a wetland, which will recognize its role in sediment and nutrient storage and help local authorities in conserving the concerned lakes.

The two lakes will be strengthened to increase aquatic plants and protect biodiversity with wetland status. More than 150 species of local and migratory birds inhabit both the lakes during the winter season. These include the Greater Flamingo, White-tailed Lapwing,

Pelican, Marsh Harrier, Bar-headed Goose, Common Teal, Greenshank, Pintail, Wagtail, Green Sandpiper and Red-Watted Lapwing. Bird lovers and tourists visit this village after the arrival of migratory birds from Central Asia, Europe and Mongolia.

Other Ramsar Sites in Rajasthan Presently there are two wetlands recognized as Ramsar sites in Rajasthan-Keoladeo Ghana in Bharatpur District. Sambhar Salt Lake in Jaipur District. What are wetlands?

Wetlands are areas where water is the primary controlling factor in the environment and associated

plant and animal life. Wetlands are defined as: "land transitional between terrestrial and aquatic

ecosystems where water is usually on the surface or the land is covered by shallow water".