Gokul Reservoir and Udaipur Lake in Bihar have been designated as new Ramsar Sites.

• With these additions, India now has 93 Ramsar sites. They cover total area of 1,360,719 hectares.
• Bihar already had three Ramsar sites – Kabar Jheel (Kabar Taal) in Begusarai and Nagi and Nakti bird sanctuaries in Jamui district. 

About New Wetlands 

• Both Wetlands are oxbow lake. 
  • An oxbow is a crescent-shaped lake lying alongside a winding river. 
• Gokul Reservoir (Buxar district) is located on the southern edge of the Ganga River.
• Udaipur Lake in West Champaran district is surrounded by the Udaipur Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • It is an important wintering ground for many migratory bird species, including pochard (Aythya ferina).

About Ramsar Convention (Convention on Wetlands) 

• Adopted in 1971.
• An intergovernmental treaty under UNESCO.
• Objective: Provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• Criteria: A wetland must meet at least 1 of 9 criteria such as regularly supporting 20,000 or more water birds, or conserving biological diversity etc.
• India ratified the Convention in 1982.