Glaw Lake becomes Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar Site

 Why in News?
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has designated Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh as India’s 101st Ramsar Site, making it the first Ramsar Site in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Glaw Lake:

• Glaw Lake is a freshwater lake located within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It lies in the Eastern Himalayas, one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots.
• The lake is fed by perennial mountain streams originating in the Himalayan foothills.
• The surrounding landscape supports rich biodiversity, including more than 150 tree species and 49 orchid species.
• The lake and the adjoining Kamlang Tiger Reserve provide habitat for four species of big cats: Tiger (Panthera tigris), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia).
• Glaw Lake is a popular destination for trekking, hiking and nature-based tourism.
• It holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Mishmi tribal community, who regard the lake as sacred.

About Ramsar Sites:

• A Ramsar Site is a wetland of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 1971, adopted in Ramsar, Iran.
• The Convention promotes the conservation and wise use of wetlands through national action and international cooperation.
• With the inclusion of Glaw Lake, India now has 101 Ramsar Sites.

Source: Ramsar