NEW DELHI: With the WWF ’s Living Planet Report 2024 highlighting catastrophic 73% decline in average size of wildlife populations in just 50 years, the TOI on Thursday sought to find out its main takeaway for India. Dipankar Ghose, Director-Biodiversity Conservation, WWF-India, responded to key questions on India and its efforts, whatsoever, to conserve the country’s wildlife populations. Excerpts:
What’s the main takeaway for India in terms of vulnerability, decline in number of species (specific examples), habitat loss and efforts, whatsoever, to restore/conserve the country’s natural ecosystem?
India has seen mixed results for species trends. Tiger populations have increased in the country over the last one and half decades, with a mean population estimate of 3682 individuals as per the last count. However, the situation is the opposite for bird populations. Birds in open habitats have declined. In India, scientists developed fine-tuned SDMs (Species Distribution Models) and predicted 1091 terrestrial bird species that would be distributed in the country by 2070 on two climatic surfaces using Maximum Entropy-based species distribution algorithms. Of these bird species, approximately 66-73% species in the country will shift to higher elevations or shift northwards. Another 58% bird species would lose part of their distribution ranges, whereas that of about 40% bird species would increase.
Bird species richness is expected to change extensively in both Western and Eastern Himalayas. An overall decrease in the congregation or flock size of birds has also been observed. The State of India’s Birds (2023) assessed data 942 bird species from 30 million observations and reported a 39% decline of species over the past decades. The same report also classified 178 species as of High Conservation Priority. Vultures have seen a major decline between 2002 and 2022, and the latest survey of vultures across India has seen a reduction in populations of the white-rumped vulture by 67%, the Indian vulture by 48% and the slender-billed vulture by 89%. These declines are attributed to use of NSAIDs like acelofenac and ketoprofen.
It is important to conserve bird habitats, in urban, peri-urban and natural ecosystems – they are the indicators of major ecosystem health. Even for tigers, while numbers have increased, habitats have declined. The last All India Tiger Estimation Report (NTCA, 2022) stated that 254,880 sq.km of tiger habitat was found to have invasive species at varying magnitudes across the country. Overall, while India has done well to conserve several key wildlife species and, in fact, holds the world’s largest populations of species like the Bengal tiger, greater one-horned rhino and Asiatic elephant as well as a significant population of aquatic species such as the river dolphin and gharial. At the same time, species like the Great Indian Bustard are on the brink of extinction.
Do you think those efforts are enough?
India has done well in the recovery of endangered species like the greater one-horned rhinoceros, that saw concerted action from the government, scientists and civil society organisations, backed by tremendous support from people. There was a multi-pronged approach, on protection, habitat restoration and management and species recovery through active management. Such efforts are needed for restoring populations of other Critically Endangered and Endangered species. Along with efforts of the government, industries, institutions and CSOs will need to join hands for species-specific restoration efforts.
What more can be done?
Long-term conservation of wildlife and ecosystems in India requires a holistic, science-based and inclusive approach that integrates well-managed and connected ecosystems and effective species conservation strategies that are implemented in collaboration and with the support of local communities. With new threats like climate change emerging, ecosystem-based adaptation helps in managing climate change impacts, by increasing ecosystem & community resilience. Specific actions include restoration of wetlands and mangroves. OECMs (Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures) that support conservation in areas outside formally protected areas with the engagement of communities, businesses and individuals are also a way forward in protecting nature.
What’s the main takeaway for India in terms of vulnerability, decline in number of species (specific examples), habitat loss and efforts, whatsoever, to restore/conserve the country’s natural ecosystem?
India has seen mixed results for species trends. Tiger populations have increased in the country over the last one and half decades, with a mean population estimate of 3682 individuals as per the last count. However, the situation is the opposite for bird populations. Birds in open habitats have declined. In India, scientists developed fine-tuned SDMs (Species Distribution Models) and predicted 1091 terrestrial bird species that would be distributed in the country by 2070 on two climatic surfaces using Maximum Entropy-based species distribution algorithms. Of these bird species, approximately 66-73% species in the country will shift to higher elevations or shift northwards. Another 58% bird species would lose part of their distribution ranges, whereas that of about 40% bird species would increase.
Bird species richness is expected to change extensively in both Western and Eastern Himalayas. An overall decrease in the congregation or flock size of birds has also been observed. The State of India’s Birds (2023) assessed data 942 bird species from 30 million observations and reported a 39% decline of species over the past decades. The same report also classified 178 species as of High Conservation Priority. Vultures have seen a major decline between 2002 and 2022, and the latest survey of vultures across India has seen a reduction in populations of the white-rumped vulture by 67%, the Indian vulture by 48% and the slender-billed vulture by 89%. These declines are attributed to use of NSAIDs like acelofenac and ketoprofen.
It is important to conserve bird habitats, in urban, peri-urban and natural ecosystems – they are the indicators of major ecosystem health. Even for tigers, while numbers have increased, habitats have declined. The last All India Tiger Estimation Report (NTCA, 2022) stated that 254,880 sq.km of tiger habitat was found to have invasive species at varying magnitudes across the country. Overall, while India has done well to conserve several key wildlife species and, in fact, holds the world’s largest populations of species like the Bengal tiger, greater one-horned rhino and Asiatic elephant as well as a significant population of aquatic species such as the river dolphin and gharial. At the same time, species like the Great Indian Bustard are on the brink of extinction.
Do you think those efforts are enough?
India has done well in the recovery of endangered species like the greater one-horned rhinoceros, that saw concerted action from the government, scientists and civil society organisations, backed by tremendous support from people. There was a multi-pronged approach, on protection, habitat restoration and management and species recovery through active management. Such efforts are needed for restoring populations of other Critically Endangered and Endangered species. Along with efforts of the government, industries, institutions and CSOs will need to join hands for species-specific restoration efforts.
What more can be done?
Long-term conservation of wildlife and ecosystems in India requires a holistic, science-based and inclusive approach that integrates well-managed and connected ecosystems and effective species conservation strategies that are implemented in collaboration and with the support of local communities. With new threats like climate change emerging, ecosystem-based adaptation helps in managing climate change impacts, by increasing ecosystem & community resilience. Specific actions include restoration of wetlands and mangroves. OECMs (Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures) that support conservation in areas outside formally protected areas with the engagement of communities, businesses and individuals are also a way forward in protecting nature.
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