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The Chhari-Dhand wetland, known for its unique biodiversity, has been officially designated as a Ramsar site. This marks Gujarat's fifth Ramsar site and the first of its kind in the Kutch region. With the inclusion of the Chhari-Dhand Bird Sanctuary, the total number of Ramsar sites in Gujarat has now reached five.

Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia shared this news in a statement, highlighting that the Ramsar designation will foster positive changes in environmental conservation, biodiversity, local development, and global recognition.

He emphasized that Gujarat has always been at the forefront of wetland conservation and management, with over 21% of the country's total wetland area located within the state, the highest among all states. The wetlands in Gujarat span approximately 3.5 million hectares, accounting for about 17.8% of the state's total geographical area. The minister noted that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government is committed to ongoing efforts in environmental protection, biodiversity, and wetland management.

The statement also mentioned several wetland-based protected areas in the state, including the Marine National Park and Sanctuary, Khijadiya Sanctuary, Nalsarovar Sanctuary, Chhari-Dhand, the Little Rann of Kutch Wild Ass Sanctuary, and the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary.

The Gir Foundation, based in Gandhinagar, is actively involved in scientific research, monitoring programs, and documentation related to wetland ecosystems in Gujarat. They noted that a new milestone has been achieved in environmental tourism and conservation in Kutch. The Chhari-Dhand Conservation Sanctuary, located along the edge of the Banni region, recognized as Asia's largest grassland, has now been officially declared as an internationally significant wetland and Ramsar site.