The rich biodiversity of the wetland comprising aquatic, mesophytic and terrestrial flora and fauna including some important species of plants and animals was recognized internationally by the Ramsar Convention in 2002 by designating the Kanjli Lake in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.

The erstwhile Maharaja of Kapurthala (Raja Randhir Singh - 1862 to 1870), built the headworks on the river Kali Bein which resulted in the creation of the Kanjli Wetland which subsumes the sparkling lake by the same name.

The Bien river has contributed to the formation of fertile plains by bringing down large sediment loads during floods.

[10] From a satellite imagery study of the wetland it has been inferred that Kanjli Lake could be categorised under low turbidity class (dark blue hue) during pre-monsoon period and moderate turbidity class (medium blue) during post monsoon season which is indicative of regimentation occurring in the lake during post monsoon season.

According to the District Gazetteer and the study done by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), 17 fish species (in Bein river and the lake) have been reported which includes the common fish species of Catla catla, Channa marulius (great snakehead), Cythus striatus, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo calbasu and Labeo rohita.

The migratory birds include various species of goose, white-eyed pochard, wigeon, Tufted Duck, common teal, large whistling teal, pintail, mallard, White Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Black-winged Stilt, Common Chiffchaff, and shoveller.

[12] The conservation and management measures undertaken with assistance provided by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt.

[10] Sikh tradition states that at the age of thirty, Nanak went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the Kali Bein.