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Indian Avian Diversity: Status, Challenges, and Solutions

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Biodiversity in India: Status, Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Birds like other taxa are under severe human-induced threats all over the world. According to the latest taxonomic studies, there are more than 11,000 species of birds in the world, and nearly 1262 were reported from India in 2016, but now the list is 1210. Nearly 13 percent of birds of the world are listed in IUCN Red List. Interestingly, in India also about 14 percent of bird species are either Threatened or Near Threatened, according to Red List of IUCN-BirdLife International. Hunting, trapping, and bird trade of all Indian bird species are prohibited. India also has nearly 700 protected areas, some specifically declared as bird sanctuaries. Bombay Natural History Society and BirdLife International have recognized 554 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas of India. Many IBAs are already in the PA category. Despite this, emerging new threats from windmills, power lines, solar panels, pesticides, climate change, invasive species, and free-ranging stray dogs are threatening the birdlife of India. Birds living in human-dominated landscapes and waterscapes are particularly prone to these threats. These threats are in addition to the existing threats of habitat destruction, habitat deterioration, and poaching. The paper discusses the emerging new threats and recommends conservation measures to protect the birdlife of India.

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Acknowledgements

First of all, I want to thank Prof. Ravinder Kohli, Vice Chancellor, Central University, Bhatinda, for inviting me to the INSA Annual Meeting in Goa. I am also grateful to Dr. Jaya Kumar Seelam, Professor, School of Oceanography, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, and to Dr. Brotati Chattopadhyay, Assistant Executive Director-1 (Council), Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, for the logistic arrangement. I am grateful to Dr. S. Balachandran, Dy. Director; Dr. Vibhu Prakash, Dy. Director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS); Ms. Parveen Shaikh; Dr. Sujit Narwade of BNHS; Mr. B.C. Choudhury, retired professor, WII; and Mr. Dhritiman Mukherjee, wildlife photographer, for discussion and support.

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  1. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India

    Asad R. Rahmani

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  1. Asad R. Rahmani
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    Shalinder Kaur

  2. Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    D.R. Batish

  3. Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    H.P. Singh

  4. Amity University, Mohali, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India

    Ravinder Kohli

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Rahmani, A.R. (2022). Indian Avian Diversity: Status, Challenges, and Solutions. In: Kaur, S., Batish, D., Singh, H., Kohli, R. (eds) Biodiversity in India: Status, Issues and Challenges. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9777-7_9

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