Jammu and Kashmir's state bird critically endangered
There should be no fencing in pastures so that the Black-Necked Crane can breed and roam around freely in the wetlands and the ministry of environment and forests should include Black-necked Crane under species recovery programme.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE fact that the Jammu and Kashmir’s state bird Black-necked crane is included in the list of 155 critically endangered bird species worldwide, every effort needs to be taken to ensure that this species which is the star species of high altitude wetlands survies, said Pankaj Chandan, Programme Manager, High Altitude Wetlands Conservation Programme, WWF-India here today. Black-necked Crane, the last of the world's cranes to be discovered by the scientific community in the North Eastern Tibet in1876, is the highly endangered species in the world. Mainly found in three countries-India, China and Bhutan in the Tibetan Plateau from eastern Ladakh to northern Sichuan province in China, Black-necked crane has eluded man’s scrutiny and has retained its age-old aura of mystery and charm. In India, Eastern Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir is the only known breeding population outside China. The latest census data reveals that the total population of Black-necked Crane is around 11,000. In the recent years, winter counts of Black-necked Crane were conducted throughout its wintering range and research focusing on habitat selection, food, time budget and territories during winter have been carried out. Listing out several major challenges before the wildlife scientists for the conservation of Black necked cranes, Chandan said that shrinking of the habitat of the bird, unregulated tourism which is on constant increase in Ladakh and also coincides with the peak biological activity of the black necked carne in eastern Ladakh, ferral dogs, electric poles at the breeding and wintering areas of the bird, shrinking of the habitat of the bird, fencing the feeding areas of the bird are some of the major issues. “While more birds and new wintering grounds have been located in the last four decades, actual population of this species still remains vulnerable,” said Chandan in wintering grounds, where farming activities are extensive, wetlands for the Crane have been extensively affected by the habitat loss and degradation. Because of the significance of wetlands and the pressure on the species from agricultural activities vary from site to site, more studies need to be done to make comparisons among wintering areas, and between wintering and breeding areas. He added that wetlands are very important for this species for roosting and foraging; the Crane almost exclusively roost in wetlands, although the significance of wetlands varies from site to site. Chandan who has undertaken extensive field study in all the three regions of India (Ladakh), China and Bhutan on Black Necked crane, said in Ladakh which is the only existing breeding ground for the bird outside China, there were 73 birds and 11 chicks spotted in 2010. He said that every pair, every chik, every nest site matters to us. Proposing some major conservation actions for regional cooperation for the conservation of black necked crane, Chandan said the need of the hour is to set up a Regional Crane Forum between India, China & Bhutan at the international level. At the country level, he said developmental and tourism activities around wetlands where the bird breeds need to be properly regulated, action needs to be taken to control the menace of feral dogs, electric poles in wetlands need to removed and plantation in high altitude wetland areas should be stopped. Earlier, Jairam Ramesh, Union minister for Environment and Forests said the conservation of the Black-necked crane can not only save the endangered species but can also boost regional cooperation and forge strong bonds between various neighbouring countries. He said bio-diversity is a very important area for regional cooperation and it is the most important reason why Black-necked crane assumes huge importance and by saving birds like Black-necked crane, we would not only saving this rare bird but the entire ecosystem and especially high attitude wetland ecosystems. Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India said it was a great moment for WWF as this regional workshop is bringing three countries together for the first time in the history of bio-diversity conservation, especially of black necked crane, together. This, he said, will give a current update on various current research and conservation activities on the species and accordingly we can make a future action plan for the species which the WWF initiative three years ago.” He said the WWF has a conservation project for the conservation of High Altitude wetlands. The project initially started in Ladakh, in India but recently the project has been extended to other Himalayan States in India which have high altitude wetlands. As part of the project activities Black-necked Crane has been identified as a key species for conservation. In Ladakh WWF has actively engaged all the stakeholders for the conservation of the species from the past over one decade. Jagdish Kishwan, Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife), Government of India, said BNC is a mystic, mysterious but highly venerated species among Ladakhi Buddhist community. He dwelled in detail about the importance of this majestic bird in the history of Ladakh and said how after severe drab winter, the sighting of this bird brings happiness in the lives of Ladakhis. He however expressed concern over the fact that the bird is critically endangered and there are only 70 birds and 10 chicks spotted in Ladakh every year. “However the mystery over the fact that where do this bird goes after leaving Ladakh in the severe harshest cold months is still not been unveiled and not much is know about the lifecycle of the bird,” said Kishwan adding this bring into focus international cooperation for further research on this rare bird. He said while money in no problem in the research, the main problem is the lack of focused approach in its conservation, both at the centre and the state level. He hoped that international projects would be taken up for the conservation of this bird after this first ever workshop being attended by three countries. Dr. Asad R. Rahmani, Director, Bombay Natural History Society and Dasho Paljor Dorji, Chairman, National Environment Commission of Bhutan and Founder Patron Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) which is the only non-governmental organization to work on environmental issues in Bhutan also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, first Regional Crane Conservation Award was awarded to Phurpa Wangdi, a villager in Bhutan who has given his 35 years to the conservation of Black-necked Crane conservation in Bhutan. Archana Chatterjee, Head, Regional Programme on Himalayan High Altitude Wetlands Conservation, WWF-India presented Vote of Thanks. A host of experts in the field from India. China and Bhutan including Sherub, Head Programmes, Ugyen Wangchuk Institute for Conservation and Environment, Royal Government of Bhutan, Prakash Gole, Dr. Taej Mundkur from Wetlands International and Dr. Simba Chan from the Birdlife International, General G D Bakshi, Col. R T Chacko, Director Ecological Society of India, Bharat Jethva, Coordiantor AWC, Wetlands International, John D. Farrington. WWF-China,Usha Ganguli-Lachungpa, Sr. Research Officer, Department of Forest, Environment and WL Management, Government of Sikkim participated in the two day event.
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