New Karmajiri Sanctuary | Madhya Pradesh | 27 Jul 2022

On July 26, 2022, a notification has been issued by the State Government for setting up of a new Karmajhiri Sanctuary covering the border forest area of Pench Tiger Reserve.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Jasbir Singh Chauhan informed that 1410.420-hectare forest area of Seoni district has been included in the newly formed Karmajiri Sanctuary.
Its formation will strengthen the management of the Tiger Reserve and will provide additional habitat for vegetarian and non-vegetarian wildlife. Along with this, the area of protected area will increase by including wildlife-dominated area in the state.
At present there are 24 sanctuaries in the state. The Karera Sanctuary in Shivpuri has been denotified. Thus, after the formation of the Karmajhiri Sanctuary, the total number will remain 24.
After the approval received from the Government of India, the state government issued another important notification in Karera of Shivpuri district, 202.21 sq.km. The wildlife sanctuary built in the area has been abolished. This has fulfilled the long standing demand of the people of this area.
It is noteworthy that Karera Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in 1981 for the protection of Son Chidiya. It included only revenue and private land. The sale and purchase of land included in the notification was banned after the notification of the sanctuary.

Shivpuri's Sankhya Sagar Lake | Madhya Pradesh | 27 Jul 2022

Sankhya Sagar Lake located in Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh has also been included in the newly announced five Ramsar sites in the country on July 26, 2022.

Madhya Pradesh gets second Ramsar site after two decades. Earlier, Bhopal's Bada Talab (Bhojtal) has got the status of Ramsar site.
It is worth mentioning that a proposal was sent to the Government of India to declare three wetlands of the state, Sirpur wetland of Indore and Yashwant Sagar and Sankhya Sagar as Ramsar sites.
The Union Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate has designated five new wetland sites of international importance under the Ramsar Treaty, including three wetland sites in Tamil Nadu (Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest and Pichavaram Mangrove), one in Mizoram (pala wetland). and a wetland site (Sankhya Sagar) in Madhya Pradesh. Thus, the total number of Ramsar sites in the country has increased from 49 to 54.
It is noteworthy that the list of wetland sites of international importance is maintained on the basis of an international treaty signed in the year 1971 in Ramsar city of Iran regarding lake conservation.