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Chandertal Wetland
| Site Name | Chandertal Wetland |
|---|---|
| State | Himachal Pradesh |
| Ramsar Site Number | 1569 |
| Ramsar Designation Date | 08 Nov 2005 |
| Area | 49 hectares |
| Latitude | 32.4833 |
| Longitude | 77.6 |
| Categories | Inland wetland Permanent freshwater lake Tundra wetland |
| Elevation min / max | 4337 / 4337 |
| Listed in Montreux Record? | No |
| Spans over more than one country? | No |
| Details | |
| A high altitude lake on the upper Chandra valley flowing to the Chandra river of the Western Himalayas (4,337m asl.) near the Kunzam pass joining the Himalayan and Pir Panchal ranges. It supports CITES and IUCN Redlisted Snow Leopard and is a refuge for many species like Snow Cock, Chukor, Black Ring Stilt, Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Chough, Red Fox, Himalayan Ibex, and Blue Sheep. These species, over the years, have developed special physiological features as adaption strategies to cold arid climate, intense radiation, and oxygen deficiency. Some 65% of the larger catchment is degraded forest due to overgrazing by the nomadic herdsmen, while 35% are covered by grasslands. Other threatening factors to this fragile and sparse vegetation are summer trekking, littering waste, and lack of sanitation facilities. Since declaring the site a nationally important wetland in 1994, the authorities have been providing funds for ecotourism facilities. Spiti Forest Department is the custodian and State Council of Science, Technology and Environment is coordinating conservation management. | |
| Threats | |
| Human settlements (non agricultural), Tourism and recreation areas, Human intrusions & disturbance, Recreational and tourism activities, Pollution, Garbage and solid waste, Household sewage, urban waste water, Agriculture & aquaculture, Livestock farming and ranching, Transportation and service corridors, Roads and railroads | |
