New Delhi, June 6 -- The Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia, known for its rich avifaunal biodiversity, was on Friday designated as a Ramsar site, or a wetland of international importance, making it the 100th such site in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the feat, coinciding with World Environment Day, reflects India's unwavering commitment to protecting natural surroundings and wetlands. "Glad that the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, has been designated as India's 100th Ramsar site. This wetland is rich in avifaunal biodiversity, attracting several migratory and resident birds," he said in a post on X. Modi said efforts to conserve and rejuvenate wetlands have been strengthened through greater community participation, science, innovation, and awareness initiatives. "These endeavours are helping preserve biodiversity, secure ecological balance, and create a greener future for coming generations," he wrote. India is one of the parties to the 1971 Ramsar Convention, framed in Iran's Ramsar. Parties are expected to identify and place suitable wetlands onto the List of Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar List, under the Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation of wetlands. The convention has mechanisms guiding the designation of the significant wetlands as Ramsar sites and steps to manage them effectively by maintaining their ecological character. Separately, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta released the Delhi Bird Atlas, a compilation of data on Delhi's avifauna....