TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court has directed the Indian government to reveal its comprehensive plans for the conservation of the critically-endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) by February.
EXPLANATION:
- This directive underscores the urgent need to address the threats faced by the bird species, primarily arising from collisions with high transmission power lines in its natural habitats in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Endangerment of the Great Indian Bustard:
- The Great Indian Bustard faces the looming threat of extinction due to collisions with high transmission power lines, particularly in regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- These areas, coincidentally, are vital habitats for the bustards.
- The court emphasizes the need for the government’s plan to strike a delicate balance between preserving the bird species.
- It honors global commitments to reduce carbon footprints by embracing alternative forms of energy, notably solar power.
GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD:
- GIBs are the largest among the four bustard species found in India – the other three being MacQueen’s bustard, the lesser florican and the Bengal florican.
- It is important to note that Great Indian Bustards are the State bird of Rajasthan.
- It is considered India’s most critically endangered bird, and it is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
Threats:
- Among the biggest threats to the GIBs are overhead power transmission lines.
- Due to their poor frontal vision, the birds can’t spot the power lines from a distance and are too heavy to change course when close.
- Thus, they collide with the cables and die.
- According to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), in Rajasthan, 18 GIBs die every year after colliding with overhead power lines.
Protection Status:
- International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (IUCN): Critically Endangered
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix1
- Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
Conclusion:
- The Supreme Court’s directive reflects a heightened awareness of the delicate balance required between conservation efforts and renewable energy pursuits.
- The fate of the Great Indian Bustard serves as a symbol of the challenges faced in harmonizing biodiversity preservation and global environmental commitments in the evolving landscape of sustainable development.