Glaw Lake Becomes Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar Site, India’s 101st

Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh was designated as India’s 101st Ramsar site on 3 August 2026. It became Arunachal Pradesh’s first Ramsar wetland and is located in the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas, in Lohit district.

Glaw Lake as a Ramsar Wetland

Ramsar sites are wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. The convention covers wetlands of international importance, including lakes, marshes, peatlands, mangroves, and artificial wetlands. India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982. With Glaw Lake, India’s Ramsar site count reached 101, up from 26 in 2014.

Ecological Features of Glaw Lake

Glaw Lake is a high-altitude freshwater lake fed by perennial mountain streams. The wetland and its catchment area support more than 150 tree species and 49 orchid species. The lake is described as a biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Himalayas. The Eastern Himalayas are part of a global biodiversity hotspot that includes species-rich forest and mountain ecosystems across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China.

Wetland Conservation in India

Wetlands are ecosystems where water covers the land permanently or seasonally. They support groundwater recharge, flood control, fish breeding, and habitat for birds and aquatic species. India has designated wetlands under the Ramsar framework across several states and union territories. Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab are among the states with a large number of Ramsar sites.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
• India became a party to the Ramsar Convention in 1982.
• Glaw Lake is located in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Orchids are often used as indicator species for habitat quality in mountain ecosystems.

Arunachal Pradesh’s first Ramsar site is Glaw Lake, which lies inside the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary. India’s Ramsar site count reached 101 on 3 August 2026.