A collaborative effort involving conservationists, wildlife experts, academics, and students is now underway to secure the prestigious Ramsar site designation for two vital, interconnected wetlands located in Assam’s central Nagaon district.
This significant Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex is nestled within the 70.13 square kilometer Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, an integral part of the renowned Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. Remarkably, this complex has consistently registered higher bird populations than Northeast India’s only two existing Ramsar sites: Deepor Beel in Assam and Loktak Lake in Manipur.
For context, a Ramsar site is a wetland recognized for its international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty established in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
Birds at the Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex in central Assam’s Nagaon district. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, highlighted the critical role these wetlands play. She explained that the Laokhowa and neighboring Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries serve as vital corridors, facilitating the migration of wild animals between the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve and Orang National Park within the broader Kaziranga-Orang landscape.
Further reinforcing this appeal, civil society organizations and local college students have diligently researched and monitored the complex. Their dedicated efforts have provided crucial data on the diverse avian species and the unique floodplain-marsh ecosystem spanning approximately 3 square kilometers within these two wetlands.
An average of 120 species of resident and migratory birds, including globally threatened species such as the knob-billed duck, black-necked stork, and the ferruginous pochard, have been recorded in the wetland complex annually. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
The most recent 6th Kaziranga Waterbird Census, conducted just months ago, revealed impressive numbers: 20,653 birds of 75 species were observed at Rowmari Beel, while Donduwa Beel hosted 26,480 birds across 88 species. This included globally threatened species such as the knob-billed duck, black-necked stork, and the ferruginous pochard.
Officials confirmed that this combined total significantly surpasses the bird counts recorded at Deepor Beel and Loktak Lake, further strengthening the case for Ramsar designation.
Smarajit Ojah, Officer on Special Duty for Assam’s Directorate of Higher Education, reiterated this sentiment following a recent conservation workshop in Nagaon. He stated, “The remarkable avian diversity at the Rowmari-Donduwa complex, combined with its rich habitat and crucial ecological connectivity, unequivocally positions these wetlands as prime candidates for Ramsar Convention designation.”
The workshop, a joint initiative by the Centre for Sustainable Development, Nowgong Girls’ College, and the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, specifically focused on developing comprehensive strategies for the conservation of the Laokhowa wetlands.
Dilwar Hussain from the Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Conservation Society emphasized the ecological vulnerability and urgent need for habitat restoration within the Rowmari-Donduwa complex as compelling reasons for its Ramsar status. He lamented, “Despite having over 3,000 wetlands, Assam hasn’t seen a new Ramsar site designation since Deepor Beel in 2002.”
Globally, India is a significant player in wetland conservation, boasting 93 Ramsar Sites that collectively cover an impressive 1.36 million hectares. These sites are crucial for their diverse ecosystems, supporting rich biodiversity, and providing essential services like flood control, groundwater replenishment, and wildlife habitat protection.
Domestically, Tamil Nadu leads all Indian states with 20 Ramsar sites, with Uttar Pradesh following closely behind with 10.
Encouragingly, officials from the Assam Forest Department have confirmed that a formal proposal has been submitted to elevate the Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex, a region previously jeopardized by encroachment and illegal fishing, to a Ramsar Site, marking a significant step towards its long-term protection.