As a major ecological milestone for Bihar, Gogabeel Lake became India’s 94th Ramsar site. This strengthened India’s position as the country with the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia and third-highest globally.
National Ranking Highlights
- Bihar now has 6 Ramsar sites, becoming the third state with the most Ramsar sites after:
- Tamil Nadu (highest)
- Uttar Pradesh
- Globally, India now ranks 3rd in number of Ramsar sites after:
- United Kingdom – 176 sites
- Mexico – 144 sites
- Bihar becomes the 6th state with multiple Ramsar sites after: Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Odisha.
About Gogabeel (Gogabil) Lake
Type & Formation
- A natural oxbow lake – crescent-shaped wetland formed by river meandering.
- Located between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers in Katihar district, Bihar.
- Forms part of the Trans-Gangetic Plains.
- Created from flows of:
- Mahananda & Kankhar rivers → north
- Ganga river → south and east
- Hydrological feature:
- Acts as a seasonal floodplain connecting Ganga and Mahananda during high water levels.
Legal Status & Area
- 57 ha – Community Reserve area
- 30 ha – Conservation Reserve area
- Declared Bihar’s first Community Reserve in 2019 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Became Bihar’s 15th Protected Area.
Historical Timeline
| Year | Event |
| 1990 | Declared a Closed Area → renewed up to 2000 |
| 2002 | “Closed Area” category removed → protection lost |
| 2004 & 2017 | Notified as Important Bird Area (IBA) by IBCN & BirdLife International |
| 2019 | Declared Community Reserve after community and NGO efforts (Janlakshya & Goga Vikas Samiti) |
| 2025 | Designated as Ramsar Site → global recognition |
Ecological & Biodiversity Importance
Avifaunal Richness
- Hosts 90+ bird species, including 30 migratory species.
- Lies on the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) — crucial wintering & staging site.
Endangered / Vulnerable / Near Threatened species include:
- Vulnerable:
- Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
- Lesser Adjutant Stork
- Wallago attu (vulnerable catfish)
- Near Threatened:
- Black-necked Stork
- White Ibis
- White-eyed Pochard
Other Notable Bird Species
- Red-crested Pochard
- Bar-headed Goose
- Greylag Goose
- Northern Pintail
- Ruddy Shelduck
- Black-bellied Tern (endangered)
- Painted Stork
- Ferruginous Duck
- Darter
- Black-headed Ibis
Ecological Features
- A permanent waterbody– shrinks in summer but never dries.
- Supports:
- Large waterbird congregations
- Fish breeding
- Wetland vegetation
- Flood buffering functions
Livelihood & Human Use
- Supports local communities through:
- Fishing
- Cattle grazing
- Irrigation
- Navigation
- Recreation
- Threats:
- Heavy fertilizer and pesticide runoff
- Overexploitation of biological resources
India & Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
- International treaty for wetland conservation
- Signed in 1971, Ramsar (Iran)
- Came into force: 1975
- Oldest global environmental treaty among modern MEAs
- Declares wetlands of international importance as Ramsar sites
Largest Ramsar Site (World)
- Pantanal (South America)
Montreux Record
- Established: 1990, Montreux (Switzerland)
- Lists Ramsar sites requiring priority conservation action due to ecological change.
India & Ramsar
- Joined in 1982
- First Indian Ramsar sites (1981–82):
- Chilika Lake (Odisha)
- Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
- Total Ramsar sites (2025): 94
Wetlands– Definition
- Land saturated with water (fresh, saline or brackish), either permanently or seasonally.
- Types include: Marshes, lakes, ponds, mangroves, floodplains, bogs, swamps, mudflats.
Important Day
- World Wetlands Day- 2 February
Indian Legal Framework
- Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 under EP Act, 1986
- Provide for:
- State Wetlands Authority
- Wetland delineation, notification, management plans
- Prohibition of activities harming wetland ecology
Why Gogabeel’s Ramsar Status Matters
- Enhances global recognition for Bihar’s wetland ecosystems.
- Strengthens protection under international wetland conservation frameworks.
- Boosts biodiversity conservation, especially along the Central Asian Flyway.
- Enables access to conservation funding and international expertise.
- Supports sustainable livelihoods through regulated eco-tourism & wetland management.