Lok Sabha Question No. 1746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Protection of Birds
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT, PARASURAMAN K., NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, P.P. CHAUDHARY, RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK, SATYA PAL SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1746

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2016

## Protection of Birds

1746. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT:

SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

SHRI SATYAPAL SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  deaths  of  birds  have  been  registered  in  various  birds  sanctuaries  and habitats of migratory birds in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, sanctuary/habitat and State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the death of birds and vanishing of bird species in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  formulate  a  special  plan  with  the cooperation of local agencies and departments for the protection of the birds and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the other steps taken by the Government for the safety and security of bird sanctuaries?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) and (b) The  management  of  Sanctuaries  and  National  Parks,  including  bird Sanctuaries  is  responsibility  of  the  concerned  State/UT  Governments. Details of deaths of birds in various bird Sanctuaries are not compiled at the  level  of  Central  Government.  However,  there  had  been  reports  of killing of Amur Falcons in years before 2014 in Doyang reservoir area of  Nagaland,  where  the  birds  visit  every  year  on  their  migration  from Mongolia to Southern Africa.
- (c) Wildlife Institute has undertaken a project wherein the migratory Amur Falcons visiting India have been satellite tagged and their migratory path from India to Southern Africa have been assessed.

- (d) The  Forest  Department  of  Nagaland  has  undertaken  community  based wildlife  protection  for  the  conservation  of  migratory  Amur  Falcons  in the  region.  During  the  year  2015-16,  the  Ministry  has  sanctioned  an amount of Rs.110.65 lakhs  ( 50:50  sharing  basis )  under  the  Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (component-  Protection  of  Wildlife  Outside  Protected  Areas)  for  the protection of Amur Falcons in Nagaland.
- (e) The  important  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  protection  of  bird sanctuaries include:
- i. Stringent  punishments  have  been  provided  in  the  Wild  Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for violation of provisions of the Act.
- ii. Rare and endangered species of birds including migratory birds are included in Schedule-I -IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972  thereby according them  highest degree of protection against illegal hunting and trafficking.
- iii. Financial  and  technical  assistance  is  provided  to  the  State/UT Governments for protection and management of Protected Areas.
- iv. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been established for control of illegal trade in wildlife and its parts and products.
- v. India is a contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention (Convention  on  Wetlands)  and  25  wetlands,  including  bird sanctuaries, in India have been notified as Ramsar Sites.

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