Shri Bhupender Yadav Reviews Progress Of Great Indian Bustard Conservation, Grassland Restoration And Project Cheetah At Bhuj; Releases Gujarat Action Plan For GIB Conservation

Key Highlights:

• Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav reviewed Great Indian Bustard (GIB) conservation, grassland restoration, and Project Cheetah at Bhuj, Kachchh.
• The Gujarat Action Plan for GIB Conservation was released, aiming to establish a minimum viable population of over 30 birds and secure 200-500 sq. km. of safe habitat.
• A pioneering 'jump-start' intervention for GIB resulted in a chick surviving beyond three months in the wild in Gujarat.
• A GIB Soft Release Centre has been developed near Naliya to acclimatise captive-bred birds from Rajasthan.
• A five-year national assessment for grassland management is proposed, focusing on Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) like Gujarat's Banni Grassland.
• Project Cheetah population reached 52 individuals, including 49 cubs born in India, with a 68% cub survival rate in Kuno.
• Protected habitat for cheetahs expanded to 3,428 sq. km., with Banni Grasslands and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary identified as future release sites.

Detailed Insights:

• The review emphasized moving beyond individual species conservation to landscape-level restoration, combining scientific management, habitat restoration, and community participation.
• GIB is a Critically Endangered species, with Kachchh supporting an important but isolated population.
• Immediate GIB focus is on the 200 sq. km. Lala–Rawa landscape, involving habitat restoration, grazing management, and invasive species removal.
• Significant on-ground action includes restoring 11 sq. km. of grassland infested with Prosopis juliflora in Naliya and predator-proof fencing.
• GIB conservation also benefits other specialized wildlife in Kachchh's Open Natural Ecosystems, such as lesser florican and chinkara.
• Grasslands cover nearly 24% of India's land area but are among the most degraded and under-conserved ecosystems.
• The national grassland assessment, with National CAMPA support, will provide a scientific basis for a national framework for grassland management.
• Project Cheetah demonstrates potential for successful population establishment under appropriate ecological conditions, with high cub survival.
• The program is moving towards landscape-level management, ensuring adequate habitat, prey base, and ecological connectivity for long-term recovery.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Great Indian Bustard (GIB): A Critically Endangered large bird species native to the Indian subcontinent, primarily found in grasslands.
• Project Cheetah: An ambitious reintroduction program in India aimed at establishing a viable population of cheetahs.
• Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs): Non-forest natural habitats like grasslands, savannas, and scrublands, crucial for biodiversity.
• Minimum Viable Population: The smallest population size required for a species to persist long-term without facing extinction.