Thane Creek Maharashtra Marked as Ramsar Site: Facts in Brief

Thane Creek Maharashtra: Thane Creek is located in Maharashtra, India and it has been marked as the Ramsar site in the country.  There are several sources of fresh water to the creek, of which Ulhas River is the largest, followed by many drainage channels from various suburban areas of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane. 

It is noted that a Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance. The basic aim  is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life.  

It has been declared as Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. Thane creek is fringed by mangroves on both banks & comprises around 20% of the total Indian mangrove species. 

The mangrove forest acts as a natural shelter belt & protects the land from cyclones, tidal surges, seawater seepage & intrusions. The mangrove serves as a nursery for several fishes & sustains the local fishery.

 The area is an important part of the wetland complex of the Central Asian Flyway of the birds and has been categorized as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

 Other than 202 avifaunal species, the creek also houses 18 species of fishes, crustaceans & molluscs, 59 species of butterflies, 67 species of Insects, and 35 species of phytoplankton, and 24 species of zooplankton & 23 species of Benthos.