Govt proposes 10-year comprehensive plan for conservation of Birds their habitats

 

NEW DELHI: Amid growing threats to a number of bird species in the country, the Union environment ministry has come out with a 10-year comprehensive plan for conservation of birds and their habitats in India through multiple measures including curbing illegal trade of birds and constant surveillance of avian disease to prevent a situation like what Rajasthan had recently witnessed in terms of deaths of thousands of birds at Sambhar Lake.

Calling it a visionary perspective plan (2020-2030), the ministry in its draft document listed 15 major programmes, ranging from conserving avian habitats in urban areas to conservation of migratory birds, which would be implemented over the short-term (4 years), medium-term (4-7 years) and long-term (7-10 years) periods.

In India, over 370 bird species are reportedly traded in more than 900 markets, making the country the third highest in bird trade globally despite a complete ban on export of live birds (indigenous and captive-bred exotics).

Though India had put a complete ban on local trade in birds long ago, illegal harvesting of birds from forest and non-forest areas, and trade in wild birds are prevalent in most parts of the country.

At least 1,317 bird species have been recorded in India against around 10,000 species found worldwide. Of the 1,317 species recorded in India, 72 are endemic to the country. According to an assessment of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2018, a total of 100 species of Indian birds are classified as ‘threatened’. Of these, 17 are categorised as ‘critically endangered’, 20 as ‘endangered’, and 63 as ‘vulnerable’. 

Besides these threatened species, there are several other species that are marked by sparse population size and restricted range and are generally considered rare by conservationists. The draft plan observes that it is documented that 270 species (21 percent) of Indian avifauna fall under the ‘rare’ category and these include the raptors, pheasants, bustards, hornbills, cranes, storks etc. which together are classified as Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) bird species.

Photo by Flickr/Koshy

Birds perform various ecosystem services like controlling pests in agriculture and forestry, rodent control, pollination of plants, seed dispersal and forest regeneration, scavenging services, indicators of environmental health and have socio-cultural and religious values. 

The pressure of anthropogenic activities destroying their natural habitat and factors like environmental degradation, changes in land use like rapid urbanisation and pollution poses a serious threat to their survival. It also leads to ecological imbalances. For instance, the plan noted that the decline in the population of vultures led to an alarming increase in the population of stray dogs especially in urban areas across India. It quoted a study that found that this abrupt increase in the stray dog population resulted in high rates of rabies incidences costing the country about Rs. 34 billion (Rs 3,400 crores) between 1993-2006.

The draft plan noted that considering the ecological services that birds perform and their role in the stability of ecosystem functioning, it is imperative that a long-term plan for the conservation of avian biodiversity, their ecosystems and habitats is prepared. 

With their 10-year plan, the environment ministry aims to do just that. The draft plan envisages 15 major programmes and various activities which would be implemented over short-term (2020-2024), medium-term (2024-2027) and long-term (2027-2030). 

This is an addition to India’s National Wildlife Action Plan (2017- 2031) which too has several conservation actions for the protection of birds and their habitats. The MoEFCC had also recently come out with ‘India’s National Action Plan for Conservation of Migratory Birds and their Habitats along the Central Asian Flyway (2018-2023)’. 

Carry out bird surveys in important biodiversity areas

There is a network of 870 protected areas (PAs) across India which includes national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, community reserves and conservation reserves and many of them have high avian diversity. A total of 554 sites across the country have been designated as “Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas (IBAs)” of which 219 IBAs are outside the protected area network and are under severe anthropogenic pressure. The worrying part is that most of them do not have any conservation action plan or management prescription for their sustenance.

 Photo by Anuradhac/Flickr.

Of the 554 sites, 506 have globally threatened species and thus it is important that comprehensive management plans for IBAs outside the protected area network are given priority, said the draft plan.

The draft plan recommended “bird surveys” in select landscapes to identify new IBAs for the conservation of birds and other biodiversity. It recommended an assessment of the adequacy of existing protected area network with respect to bird biodiversity and representation of biogeographic zones along with the prioritisation of areas with high avian diversity for developing conservation strategies. It also called for quantifying the economic value of ecosystem goods, services, and functions mediated through the establishment of the IBAs.

Last year, the Indian government came out with similar reports quantifying the economic value of ecosystem services of tiger reserves.