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BIRDS CENSUS IN YAMUNA FLOODPLAINS

Why in the News?

  • Annual exercise: The Asian Waterbird Count (AWC) will begin from the Yamuna floodplains in New Delhi from Saturday, an event that underscores the importance of environmental impact assessments in urban wetland management.
  • Expanded coverage: This year’s survey will cover multiple wetland sites across Delhi-NCR, unlike earlier limited counts, potentially informing future environmental clearances for urban development.
  • Collaborative effort: Conducted by Wetlands International in collaboration with eBird and local birding groups, exemplifying the role of citizen science in environmental jurisprudence.

 

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY OF THE SURVEY

  • Survey stretch: Four teams will cover a 20-kilometre stretch from Cullak Pur to Wazirabad Barrage, areas that may be subject to coastal regulation zone norms.
  • Wetland sites: Includes Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Sultanpur, Bhindawas, Surajpur, Dhanauri, Dadri, and others, highlighting the need for comprehensive environmental clearances in wetland management.
  • Duration: The census will run till January 18, with possible extension if required, providing crucial data for environmental impact assessments.
  • Scientific approach: Aims to generate structured and scientific ornithological data for the region, contributing to evidence-based environmental jurisprudence.
  • Data collection: Will help quantify sightings of over 200 bird species recorded annually, informing the application of precautionary principles in urban planning.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR CONSERVATION

  • Baseline creation: First long-term effort to build a baseline database for Yamuna wetlands, essential for future environmental clearances and impact assessments.
  • Trend analysis: Enables tracking of population changes and species diversity over time, supporting the polluter pays principle in cases of environmental degradation.
  • Policy relevance: Provides data support for wetland protection and urban biodiversity planning, potentially influencing environmental jurisprudence in urban development cases.
  • Challenging terrain: Addresses gaps caused by difficult access and lack of prior surveys, emphasizing the need for comprehensive environmental impact assessments in urban wetlands.
  • Awareness building: Strengthens public and institutional focus on wetland conservation, promoting environmental democracy in urban planning processes.

ASIAN WATERBIRD COUNT (AWC)
● Global initiative: AWC is a citizen-science programme conducted annually across Asia and Australasia, contributing to global environmental jurisprudence.
● Started: In 1987, coordinated by Wetlands International, predating many current environmental clearance processes.
● Main objective: To monitor waterbird populations and assess wetland health, informing environmental impact assessments worldwide.
● Data usage: Supports conservation planning, Ramsar reporting, and biodiversity research, often influencing environmental clearances for development projects.
● India’s role: India is a key participant due to its extensive wetland networks, many of which fall under coastal regulation zone norms.