Source: Indian Express

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Context

• The Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican are facing challenges such as habitat loss and power line collisions.
• A detailed conservation program (2024-2029) focuses on protection of these species through captive breeding and restoration of natural habitat.

Details

Reasons for decline:

• The population of GIB has severely declined due to hunting, habitat loss and depredation of eggs by other animals and feral dogs.
• Power line collisions is also the significant cause for the mortality for both species.

Past Initiatives

• National Bustard Recovery Plan (2013) to prepare and implement a framework for bustard conservation.
• Bustard Recovery Project (2016) to focus on habitat restoration and protection.
• Tripartite Agreement (2018) between MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for the establishment of Conservation Breeding Centres (CBCs).

Great Indian Bustard (GIB) & Lesser Florican Conservation Programme (2024-2029)

• Key Activities:
  • Complete upgradation of CBC at Ramdevra for GIB.
  • Developing CBC at Sorsan for Lesser Florican.
  • Conducting population surveys across range states.
  • Implementing artificial insemination techniques.
  • Release of captive-bred GIBs into the wild.
• Challenges:
  • To ensure habitat security outside protected areas.
  • To mitigate power line collisions.
  • Balancing conservation efforts with local community needs.

Supreme Court's Intervention

• SC has mandated underground power lines in the habitat of GIB in its April 2021 Order.
• In 2024, SC had prioritized bird diverters over undergrounding due to cost concerns.

Measures Taken

• Bird diverters were installed on power lines to mitigate collision risks.
• Mapping of habitat threat by WII over GIB landscape.
• Sterilization of feral dogs around Desert National Park to reduce predation.
• Capturing and translocation of predators.

Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

Status	Critically Endangered by the IUCN
Population	Less than 150 individuals
Habitat	Open landscapes in Kutch and Thar deserts (Rajasthan, Gujarat)
Legal Framework	Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Lesser Florican

Status	Critically Endangered by the IUCN
Population	Less than 1,000 individuals
Habitat	Grasslands across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
Legal Framework	Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority)

• It was established by the Supreme Court to manage funds for compensating forest land diverted for non-forest uses.
• It comprises a National Advisory Council and State CAMPA bodies.
• Guidelines for state CAMPA and provides technical and monitoring assistance are set by the National Advisory Council.
• State CAMPA funds are being used for afforestation, forest protection, wildlife conservation and infrastructure development related to forests.
• A key objective of CAMPA is to improve the capacity of the Forest Department in protecting and regenerating forests.

Wildlife Institute of India

• It was established in 1982.
• It is an internationally acclaimed Institution, which offers training program, academic courses and advisory in wildlife research and management.
• The Institute is actively engaged in research across the breadth of the country on biodiversity related issues.

Sources:

Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Great Indian Bustard (GIB): 1.The Great Indian Bustard is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. 2.The primary habitat of the Great Indian Bustard is the dense forests of the Western Ghats. 3.One of the significant threats to the GIB is collisions with overhead power lines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2, and 3 Answer: c)