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BNHS appeals to Centre to preserve wetlands and grasslands
Mumbai, June 06: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has demanded that the Centre should declare the grasslands and wetlands in the country as important ecological habitat for several bird species, contrary to their current status described in the government gazette as `wastelands`.
Mumbai, June 06: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has demanded that the Centre should declare the grasslands and wetlands in the country as important ecological habitat for several bird species, contrary to their current status described in the government gazette as "wastelands".
BNHS also appealed to the Centre not to allow other kinds of commercial plantation in the name of developing these grasslands and wetlands as it had led to a sharp decline in population of several common birds in these Important Bird Area (IBA), ornithologist M Zafar-ul-Islam, also the chief country coordinator of IBA project, said today.
Citing an example how the grasslands and wetlands were being misused officially, Islam said in the Rann of Kutch, the Banni grassland which is important for birds like lesser Florican, Great Indian Bustard and Houbara Bustard is being exploited for growing plantation and thus a visible decline of these birds.
Talking to newspersons, Islam said, "We have observed a drastic decline in the migratory birds to India from Central Asia during the last few years and recent research have clearly shown that it was due to shooting of migratory birds in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Another significant factor for the declining population of common birds in both countryside as well as in urban areas is the growing population of common house crows, literal proliferation, lamented BNHS director A R Rehmani.
Bureau Report
Citing an example how the grasslands and wetlands were being misused officially, Islam said in the Rann of Kutch, the Banni grassland which is important for birds like lesser Florican, Great Indian Bustard and Houbara Bustard is being exploited for growing plantation and thus a visible decline of these birds.
Talking to newspersons, Islam said, "We have observed a drastic decline in the migratory birds to India from Central Asia during the last few years and recent research have clearly shown that it was due to shooting of migratory birds in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Another significant factor for the declining population of common birds in both countryside as well as in urban areas is the growing population of common house crows, literal proliferation, lamented BNHS director A R Rehmani.
Bureau Report