Kattampally wetland to find place in Ramsar list

KANNUR: Kattampally wetland area in Kannur district, known for its migratory bird sanctuary, is likely to be included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The district panchayat has proposed the area to the state government for designation under the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The treaty was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, and the convention’s member countries cover all geographic regions of the planet. The 3,000 acres of wetland in Kattampally, spread over eight panchayats, has already been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the Bird Life International (BLI). If selected, Kattampally will be the fourth wetland area in the state — after Vembanad Lake, Ashtamudi and Sasthamkotta — to be included in the Ramsar list. The ecological system of Kattampally, which is well-known for wetland birds, is facing serious threat with various constructions and reclamation of land taking place in the area recently. Inclusion of the site in the Ramsar list will bring international recognition and it will be protected under the Ramsar norms. The site will be under the direct supervision of the international body and it would get economic and expertise aid as well. The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) is the responsible body in the state for the project. The proposal will be submitted to the Ramsar Convention by the Union Environment Ministry.  “The proposal to include Kattampally in the Ramsar list is a welcome move as it will help to protect the ecological system of the wetland, which is home to several migratory birds,” said Khalil Chovva, North Kerala chapter president of the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA).Various studies conducted by bird watchers since 1979 reveal that more than 20,000 migratory birds of 80 categories have been found in the area. Kattampally — an asylum to endangered species of greater and lesser spotted eagles, steppe, imperial and booted eagles listed in the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature — has already been identified as a sanctuary for rare species of migratory birds from Eurasia and Himalayan areas.Last year, bristled grass bird was spotted at Kattampally for the first time in South India. Many other rare species like spotted red shank, various kinds of buntings, Eurasian Wigeon, Galdwall duck and Ferruginous Pochard are found here during the November-March period. Teals and ducks from Siberia are common migratory birds visiting Kattampally during the period.  ‘Kaipad’ farming in these areas is seen as a positive sign for the migration of vast species of birds.
source http://expressbuzz.com/states/kerala/kattampally-wetland-to-find-place-in-ramsar-list/256278.html