Environment & ClimateImportant2025-10-25

Gogabeel Lake Declared 94th Ramsar Site

Q: Which of the following statements regarding Gogabeel Lake is/are correct? 1. It is an ox-bow lake located in Bihar and serves as a crucial habitat on the Central Asian Flyway. 2. It was declared as India's first-ever Community Reserve under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

A) 1 only — Statement 1 is correct; Gogabeel is an ox-bow lake in Bihar's Katihar district that hosts birds from the Caspian and Siberian regions. Statement 2 is incorrect; while it is Bihar's first Community Reserve, it is not India's first (Tiruppadaimarathur in Tamil Nadu holds that distinction).

Why focus: Classic Prelims facts — GS3 Environment, tests ox-bow lakes and Bihar's first Community Reserve in Match-the-Following formats.

In News

What Happened

On October 25, 2025, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially designated Gogabeel Lake in Bihar as India's 94th Ramsar Site. Located in the Katihar district, this ox-bow lake is notably Bihar's first Community Reserve. It acts as a crucial wintering habitat for hundreds of migratory bird species arriving from the Caspian and Siberian regions.

Why It Matters

This designation grants international protection to a vital stopover point on the Central Asian Flyway. It also solidifies India's leadership in regional wetland conservation, reinforcing its position as the country with the highest number of recognized Ramsar Sites in Asia.

Background

History & Context

Gogabeel is an ox-bow lake formed by the flow of the Mahananda and Kankhar rivers in the north and the Ganga in the south and east. In August 2019, the Bihar government notified it as the state's first Community Reserve under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, acknowledging the conservation efforts of local communities. The push for Ramsar status was driven by the need to secure the habitat against agricultural encroachment and protect its diverse avian population.

What Changed

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BEFORE: Gogabeel was recognized only at the state level as a Community Reserve with limited global visibility. NOW: It holds the prestigious Ramsar Site status, elevating it to a Wetland of International Importance.
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BEFORE: Conservation funding and frameworks were primarily reliant on state and local community resources. NOW: The site gains access to national and international wetland conservation funds and expertise under the Ramsar framework.
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BEFORE: The lake lacked a globally standardized ecological monitoring mandate. NOW: The Ramsar tag enforces the 'wise use' principle, requiring strict adherence to international ecological guidelines and regular reporting to the Ramsar Secretariat.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This event applies concepts from Class 12 Biology Chapter 15 - Biodiversity and Conservation, specifically regarding 'in situ' conservation strategies. Gogabeel Lake demonstrates how legal frameworks like Community Reserves and international treaties like the Ramsar Convention are utilized to protect vital ecosystems and the migratory species that depend on them.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements regarding Gogabeel Lake is/are correct? 1. It is an ox-bow lake located in Bihar and serves as a crucial habitat on the Central Asian Flyway. 2. It was declared as India's first-ever Community Reserve under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

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