Preparations are underway for Menar Lake in Udaipur district to be declared a Ramsar site. The Forest Department has initiated efforts to safeguard the surrounding areas by constructing lakeside walls, installing demarcation pillars, and repairing ghats. These measures aim to prevent encroachments and ensure the protection of the lake.

The conservation of Menar Lake, sprawling across 104 hectares, is expected to receive a significant boost with its impending Ramsar site status. This designation is anticipated to foster eco-tourism, offering new employment prospects in the region. Notably, the proposal for Ramsar site status was forwarded to the United Nations by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, on November 30 ,2023. Last year, the lake was officially declared a wetland by the government.

What is Ramsar Site?

Ramsar sites are special wetland areas protected by a global agreement called the Ramsar Convention. This agreement helps countries work together to save wetlands and use their resources wisely. To be chosen as a Ramsar site, a wetland must be special in some way, like having rare plants or animals. There are nine rules for picking Ramsar sites, like protecting different types of wetlands and preserving biodiversity.

Each winter, Menar Lake becomes a haven for over 200 bird species, which inhabit the area from October to March before embarking on their annual migration, covering distances of up to 5000 kilometers to destinations such as China, Siberia, and Russia. To facilitate tourism, the Forest Department has installed signboards guiding visitors to nearby villages and established bird watching huts to promote awareness about wetland fauna.

The popularity of Menar Lake attaining Ramsar site status has attracted a surge in tourism, particularly during winter weekends. Visitors from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and abroad flock to witness the diverse birdlife. Furthermore, research bloggers have been spotted camping in the lake's backwaters, capturing photographs and documenting their experiences.