Disappearing fauna in Noida: Forest dept yet to ascertain actual figures
16 Oct 2014 5:07 AM IST
While environmental activists have blamed massive urbanisation as the main reason for the loss of animal and bird lives, the forest department is yet to conduct a survey to get the actual data. However, a survey, conducted by Social Action for Forest Environment (SAFE), an NGO has revealed that on an average, over 20 peacocks, 25 sarus cranes, 12 blackbucks, 15 deer and a sizeable number of other species die every year.
Talking about importance of the survey, activists say that the move will not only provide actual data but will help in finding actual position of biodiversity. It will also reveal exact position of critically endangered (CG) species, vulnerable species, near threatened (NT) species and migratory species.
‘Once data is available, we can initiate processes to save the types of animals and birds which are on verge of extinction. It will also help in maintaining biodiversity status of the region. To initiate a conservation scheme, the authority must have adequate data,’ says Abhishek Kumar, a wildlife enthusiast from Noida.
As per wildlife norms, it is mandatory to carry out census and survey of wildlife but the Gautam Buddh Nagar forest division, even after completing more than 20 years of its formation, has no database of actual wildlife numbers as the census/survey has not been conducted. The department claims it has rough data of 30 wildlife species, which is a miniscule figure given that, there exist as many as 21 wetlands along the district’s Okhla bird sanctuary which are natural habitats for more than 320 species of birds and 10 species of mammals.
Not surprisingly, the departments have no detail about the wildlife existing along the river beds of Yamuna and Hindon.
Talking about importance of the survey, activists say that the move will not only provide actual data but will help in finding actual position of biodiversity. It will also reveal exact position of critically endangered (CG) species, vulnerable species, near threatened (NT) species and migratory species.
‘Once data is available, we can initiate processes to save the types of animals and birds which are on verge of extinction. It will also help in maintaining biodiversity status of the region. To initiate a conservation scheme, the authority must have adequate data,’ says Abhishek Kumar, a wildlife enthusiast from Noida.
As per wildlife norms, it is mandatory to carry out census and survey of wildlife but the Gautam Buddh Nagar forest division, even after completing more than 20 years of its formation, has no database of actual wildlife numbers as the census/survey has not been conducted. The department claims it has rough data of 30 wildlife species, which is a miniscule figure given that, there exist as many as 21 wetlands along the district’s Okhla bird sanctuary which are natural habitats for more than 320 species of birds and 10 species of mammals.
Not surprisingly, the departments have no detail about the wildlife existing along the river beds of Yamuna and Hindon.
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