UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 March 2025
Nurturing Grasslands to Save the Indian Bustard
Introduction:
- The editorial highlights the critical need to conserve grasslands to protect the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), one of India’s most endangered bird species.
- The GIB, often referred to as the “flagship species” of grasslands, is on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, human activities, and infrastructure development.
Why in News:
- The Great Indian Bustard is in the news due to its rapidly declining population, with fewer than 150 individuals left in the wild.
- The editorial emphasizes the importance of grassland conservation as a key strategy to save the species, making it relevant for environment and ecology, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.
Importance of Grasslands:
- Ecosystem Services:
- Grasslands support biodiversity, provide grazing grounds for livestock, and play a role in carbon sequestration.
- They are also crucial for soil conservation and water regulation.
- Habitat for GIB:
- The Great Indian Bustard depends on arid and semi-arid grasslands for nesting, feeding, and breeding.
- These habitats are shrinking due to agricultural expansion, industrialization, and urbanization.
Threats to Grasslands and GIB:
- Habitat Destruction:
- Conversion of grasslands into farmland, wind energy projects, and solar parks has severely impacted the GIB’s habitat.
- Power Lines:
- Collisions with power lines are a major cause of mortality for the GIB, as they have poor frontal vision and cannot detect the lines in time.
- Overgrazing and Land Degradation:
- Unsustainable grazing practices and land degradation have reduced the quality of grassland ecosystems.
- Climate Change:
- Changing weather patterns and desertification further threaten grassland habitats.
Conservation Measures:
- Habitat Restoration:
- Restoring degraded grasslands and creating protected areas for the GIB.
- Mitigation of Power Lines:
- Underground cabling and marking power lines to prevent collisions.
- Community Involvement:
- Engaging local communities in conservation efforts and promoting sustainable land-use practices.
- Policy Interventions:
- Strengthening legal frameworks to protect grasslands and endangered species like the GIB.
Role of Government and NGOs:
- The government has launched initiatives like the Species Recovery Programme for the GIB under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme.
- NGOs and conservation organizations are working on awareness campaigns, habitat restoration, and research to save the species.
Conclusion:
- The survival of the Great Indian Bustard is closely linked to the health of India’s grasslands.
- Conserving these ecosystems is not only essential for protecting the GIB but also for maintaining biodiversity, ecological balance, and livelihoods of local communities.
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