Lok Sabha Question No. 1098 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Survey for Rare Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: TATHAGATA SATPATHY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1098

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2016

## Survey for Rare Species

## 1098. SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  survey  to  identify  the  species  of  rare plants and animals in the country and if so, the details of such species;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  the  data  of  rare  plants  and  animals  which  are  on  the verge of extinction in the country, if so, the details of the said species and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the measures taken by the Government to save the said species from extinction; and
- (d) the  details  of  plants  and  animals  species  that  have  become  extinct  in  the  country during the past ten years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) & (b) Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Zoological Survey of India(ZSI) mandated for survey  of  plant  and  animal  diversity  respectively  in  the  country,  have  been  carrying  out survey and documentation of floral and faunal resources of the country including rare and threatened  species. Based  on  their  studies  and  field  surveys,  BSI  has  already  published four volumes of Red Data Book of Indian Plants and Red List of Threatened Vascular Plant Species in India,  which provides information on 1236 threatened plants in the country. On the basis of studies conducted by ZSI and their recommendations, the Ministry has brought out a document titled 'Critically Endangered animal Species of India' in 2011.

Towards  conservation  of  threatened  (including  endangered  and  vulnerable)  species,  the Government  of  India  has  established  a  Protected  Area  (PA)  Network,  which  primarily covers habitats of threatened mega fauna such as tiger, rhino, elephant, etc.

Biological  Diversity  Act,  2002,  was  inter-alia  enacted  to  ensure  protection  of  threatened species and their habitats.  Under the provisions of Section 38 of the National Biodiversity Act,  2002, the species which are on the verge of extinction or likely to become extinct in near future as threatened species, are notified.

(c)  The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  'Integrated  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  has been modified in 2008-09 by including a new component namely 'Recovery of Endangered Species'  and  17  species  have  been  identified  for  recovery  viz.  Snow  Leopard,  Bustard (including Floricans),  River  Dolphin,  Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr,  Marine  Turtles,  Dugong  &  Coral reefs,  Edible Nest Swiftlet, Asian Wild Buffalo, Nicobar Megapode, Manipur Brow-antlered

Deer, Vultures, Malabar Civet, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer and Jerdon's Courser.

The periodic assessments carried out in respect of identified species, rhinoceros, Manipur Brow-antlered  deer,  Edible-nest  Swiftlets  and  lion,  have  indicated  improvement  in  their population status.

The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been enacted for protection of wild animals, birds and plants against hunting and commercial exploitation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up for control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products.

Under the Assistance to Botanic Gardens scheme, the Ministry has supported 347 number of  botanic  gardens  for  conservation  of  endemic/  threatened  plant  species  of  the  country. BSI has also brought a number of threatened plants under cultivation in its Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in Howrah, Botanic Garden Indian Republic, Noida and other associated botanic gardens of its regional centres for their ex-situ conservation, thereby complementing the in-situ conservation of such species in protected areas.

(d)  As  per  the  research  data  available  with  BSI,  18  species  of  plants  are  considered  as possibly extinct as they have not been collected from wild for more than last fifty years. List of Extinct Plants is enclosed as Annexure.

Among the various animal groups, two species of birds and two of mammals (Annexure) are reported to be extinct primarily due to illegal poaching.

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  THE  REPLY  TO UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1098 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 22.11.2016 REGARDING SURVEY FOR RARE SPECIES.

List of Extinct Plants.

1. Isoetes dixitii Shende
2. Isoetes sampthkumarnii L.N. Rao
3. Selaginella cataractarum Alston
4. Lastreopsis wattii (Bedd.) C. Chr.
5. Ophiorrhiza brunonis Wight & Arn.
6. Ophiorhiza caudata C. Fischer
7. Ophiorrhiza radicans Gardn.
8. Wenlandia angustifolia Wight
9. Sterculia khasiana Deb
10. Carex repanda C.B. Clarke
11. Eragrostis rottleri Stapf
12. Eriochrysis rangacharii C.B. Clarke
13. Dipcadi concanense (Dalz.) Baker
14. Dipcadi reidii Deb & Dasgupta
15. Urginea polyphylla Hook. f.
16. Corypha taliera Roxb.
17. Hedychium marginatum C.B. Clarke
18. Inula kalapani C. B. Clarke

List of Extinct Animals.

1. Pink Headed Duck ( Rhodonessa caryophyllacea, Latham, 1790)
2. Himalayan Quail ( Ophrysia superciliosa )
3. Cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus, Griffith, 1821 )
4. Sumatran Rhinoceros ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, Fischer, 1814)
5. *****