Context:
The Kopra Reservoir in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, the state’s first Ramsar Site of International Importance, has emerged as a national biodiversity model that perfectly fits the 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May) theme, “Local Action, Global Impact”. Originally built as an artificial water-storage reservoir for irrigation and fish farming, Kopra has slowly grown into a self-sustaining wetland ecosystem thanks to community management by local villages and panchayats, strong avian biodiversity, and conservation-friendly land-use practices around its perimeter.
Key Highlights
- Wetland: Kopra Reservoir.
- State: Chhattisgarh.
- District: Bilaspur.
- Special status: Chhattisgarh’s first Ramsar Site, designated in 2025.
Why Kopra matters:
| Role | What it does |
|---|---|
| Migratory bird flyway node | Stopover and wintering site for thousands of long-distance migratory birds on Central Indian flyways |
| Rich aquatic food web | Healthy supply of fish, macro-invertebrates, and foraging material for birds |
| Multiple micro-habitats | Deep open water, shallow marshes, and aquatic vegetation beds, supporting nesting and roosting |
| Community-led bio-fencing | Living green barriers protect breeding grounds from human and cattle pressure |
| Hydrological stabiliser | Big groundwater recharge basin, maintains the water table, supports nearby farms |
| Recognition | Environmentalists’ push led to Ramsar listing in 2025, marking it Chhattisgarh’s first Ramsar site |
India’s wetland and Ramsar landscape:
- India has over 89 Ramsar Sites (the largest network in Asia) as of 2024.
- The National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP) and the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 are the main policy frameworks.
- The Amrit Dharohar initiative (2023) focuses on community participation, ecotourism, biodiversity, and carbon stock at Ramsar sites.
- India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982, with Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) as the first two Indian Ramsar sites.
Background Concepts (Q&A)
What is the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands?
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, signed in the city of Ramsar in Iran on 2 February 1971, is an international treaty dedicated to the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It came into force in 1975, with its Secretariat hosted by the IUCN in Gland, Switzerland. Countries that join the convention agree to designate at least one wetland for the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List) and to promote the wise use of all wetlands within their territory. Ramsar sites get international recognition, technical support, and access to global conservation networks. India joined the convention in 1982, with Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) as its first two listed sites. The convention’s three pillars are wise use, designation of Ramsar Sites, and international cooperation. World Wetlands Day is observed every year on 2 February.
What is “Bio-Fencing”?
Bio-fencing is the practice of growing living plants (such as thorny shrubs, dense hedges, fast-growing trees, or specific local species) along the boundary of a field, water body, or wetland to create a natural protective barrier. Compared to concrete, brick, or wire fencing, bio-fencing is cheaper, locally available, more ecologically friendly, and self-renewing, while also providing habitat for small birds and insects, shade, carbon storage, and even fodder or fruit in some species. In a wetland context, bio-fencing helps stop cattle from entering breeding areas, slow down human encroachment, and filter agricultural runoff before it reaches the water. The Kopra example shows how this traditional, low-cost technique can be scaled up as a serious conservation tool.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Kopra Reservoir, consider the following statements:
- It is located in the Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
- It is Chhattisgarh’s first Ramsar Site of International Importance, designated in 2025.
- It was originally built as an artificial reservoir for irrigation and fish farming.
- It functions as a wintering and stopover site for long-distance migratory birds.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:
- It was signed in 1971 in the city of Ramsar in Iran.
- It came into force in 1975.
- India joined the Ramsar Convention in 1982.
- Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan were among India’s first listed Ramsar Sites.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q3. Consider the following statements about wetland conservation in India:
- India has over 89 Ramsar Sites and currently has the largest Ramsar network in Asia.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 provide the main domestic regulatory framework.
- The Amrit Dharohar initiative was launched in 2023 to promote community participation, ecotourism, and biodiversity at Ramsar Sites.
- World Wetlands Day is observed every year on 22 May.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q4. With reference to “bio-fencing” and its use at the Kopra Reservoir, consider the following statements:
- Bio-fencing uses living plants to create a natural protective barrier around fields, water bodies, or wetlands.
- At Kopra Reservoir, bio-fencing is used to protect breeding bird grounds from cattle and human encroachment.
- Bio-fencing is typically cheaper, more eco-friendly, and self-renewing compared to concrete or wire fencing.
- Bio-fencing can also provide additional benefits such as habitat for small birds, fodder, fruit, or carbon storage depending on the species used.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Answer Key
- (d), All four statements are correct.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; World Wetlands Day is observed on 2 February every year, marking the signing of the Ramsar Convention in 1971. 22 May is the International Day for Biological Diversity, not World Wetlands Day.
- (e), All four statements are correct.
Exam Relevance
| UPSC Prelims | GS Paper III on Environment (Ramsar, wetlands, biodiversity); GS Paper I on Geography (Wetland ecosystems) |
| UPSC Mains | GS Paper III on Environment, Biodiversity, Conservation, Climate change |
| BPSC and State PCS | Environment, Geography, Current Affairs |
| Banking and NABARD | General Awareness, moderate importance |
| NABARD Grade A | Rural environment, agriculture-water linkages |
