The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on March 27, 2023, issued a Press Release regarding the Conservation Plan for Great Indian Bustards.
The following has been stated namely: -
• The Great Indian Bustard is included in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972, giving it the most legal protection against hunting.
• The species have been identified for conservation efforts under the component ‘Species Recovery Programme’ of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitats Further Financial and technical assistance is provided to the State/ Union Territory Governments under the scheme for providing better protection to Great Indian Bustard and its habitat.
• The Conservation breeding of the Great Indian Bustard has been undertaken in collaboration with Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra Forest Departments and with technical support from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun with the aim of building a captive population of the species for release in the wild and promoting in-situ conservation of the species.
• It states that the Sites for the establishment of conservation breeding centers for the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florian birds have been identified in consultation with the Forest Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, the Wildlife Institute of India, and international experts.
• A satellite conservation breeding facility has been established at Sam, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• The Ministry provides financial assistance to states and union territories under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Development of Wildlife Habitats for wildlife conservation, especially the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard. The Ministry has advised the Government of Rajasthan that the project must be authorized by the State Board for Wild Life before it can be considered for funding from the State plan and/or State CAMPA funds.
[Press Release ID 1911128]
