(IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY OF FOREST COVER SPECIAL CAMPAIGN FOR CONSERVATION OF THE GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD)
( Karnataka Government also to set up Rs.24 crores research and breeding centre at Ballari)
BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
NEW DELHI, 10 AUGUST 2023:
As per information available with the union minister of environment forests and climate control, there are about 150 Great Indian Bustards (Ardeotis nigriceps) in the country. It is also the state bird of Rajasthan.
The Ministry provides financial assistance to the States, including Gujarat, under the Recovery Programme for saving critically endangered species and its habitats and conservation and management of protected areas components of Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Development of Wildlife Habitats for conservation and protection of Great Indian Bustard.
Further, the Ministry sanctioned an outlay of Rs. 33.85 crores for the duration of seven years for the programme titled ‘Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of Great Indian Bustard-an integrated approach’ under the CAMPA in the year 2016.
An MoU has been signed between Wildlife Institute of India and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), UAE to undertake collaborative work aimed at the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard.
At the upper house of the pariliament today union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Ashwini Kumar Choubey said this in a written reply.
Rajasthan boosts the highest numbers of Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in the country. Locally known as Godawan in Rajasthan, it is a critically endagred species and is in the IUCN Red List.
The remaining few birds are found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Bombay Natural History Society has been working on the arid region of Jaisalmer, the Thar Desert in conservation of the Great Indian Bustard by creating awareness with the local population.
WWF- India is providing inputs in developing the ‘Guidelines for the state action plan for Resident Buistard Recovery Programmee’. It has also taken intiatives to for conservations of GIB in and around the Desert National Park in Jaisalmer.
According to World Worldlife Fund (WWF), there are only 200 living population of Great Indian Bustard at present worldwide. It is amongst the heaviest of all the birds.
Major announcement by Karnataka Government :
The Karnataka government has also announced to grant Rs.24 crores to set up a research unit at Ballari for Great Indian Bustard conservations. In Siruguppa Taluk in Karnataka the last six GIB are living at present.
Mr. Sandeep Suryavanshi, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Ballari said that besides conservation there will be a breeding centre. Already a team of forest officials have visited Desert National Park in Jasalmer for a study.
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