Report on the Expert Group Meeting to Develop Indicators to Asses Coastal Ecosystem Health

Chilka Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the three districts (Puri, Khurda and Ganjam) of Orissa state on the east coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km2. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest lagoon in the World. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub‐continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.