Khachoedpalri Wetland is a representative example of a temperate Himalayan High Altitude Wetland Ecosystem (consists of permanent water body representative in the region, peatland (unique) and temperate forests) that supports regiona ly significant biodiversity. Located in the northeast Indian state of Sikkim, and part of the Indian Eastern Himalaya, this 172-hectare wetland in the Dhupuk Reserve Forest , Gyalshing district, Sikkim supports complex ecological communities, including 682 species representing 5 kingdoms, 196 families, and 453 genera. Among these species, waterbird diversity is notable, due largely to Khachoedpalri’s position along the Central Asian Flyway. Migratory birds, such as the critica ly endangered Baer\'s Pochard (Aythya baeri) and Common Merganser (Mergus merganser), use Khachoedpalri’s central lake as a resting site and breeding ground on their Trans-Himalayan journeys. In terms of its characteristics, Khachoedpalri’s central lake is one of a few standing water features of its size and depth in the temperate zone of India, which occupies less than 10% of India’s total land area. As such, Khachoedpalri also supports a number of other species at critical stages in their life cycles as wel, including poorly documented amphibian populations. The wetland’s surrounding temperate forest of Evergreen Oaks and Chestnuts serves to further shelter key populations, providing critical refuge during what can be volatile mountain conditions. Khachoedpalri is a wetland of international significance and is key to maintaining temperate biodiversity in India. Further, this wetland ecosystem provides significant hydrological and other ecosystem services and forms an important habitat and layover site for 11 reported species of waterfowl including the critica ly endangered Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri) as wel as the Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Commom merganser (Mergus merganser), Common Teal (Anas crecca) and Malard (Anas platyrhynchos) . Among mammals, the reported list includes regional endemics like the Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) -(NT), Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)- (EN), Himalayan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus)- (VU) and Goral (Nemorhaedus goral). These mammals depend on this wetland for food and habitat during most part of their lifecycle. Hence, the wetland is proposed for recognition and designation as Ramsar site under Criteria 1,2,3 and 4 of the Ramsar Convention.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent nonavian animal species.