News Excerpt:
Agricultural biodiversity not only sustains the food-based bio-resources, but also helps in maintaining a viable population of various dependent flora and fauna, like the Sarus Crane.
About Sarus Crane:
- The Sarus Crane which (Grus antigone) is the tallest flying bird in the world standing 152-156 cm tall with a wingspan of 240cm.
- It weighs 6.8-7.8 Kgs.
- It is a social creature, found mostly in pairs or small groups of three or four.
- It is known to mate for life with a single partner, and its breeding season coincides with heavy rainfall in monsoon.
- Conservation status: “Vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List.
In India:
- There are 15 crane species in the world out of which the Sarus crane is the only resident species found in India.
- The major population of Sarus cranes are found in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Conservation Challenges:
- Local Threats like egg mortality and habitat loss due to land use change: Farmers often perceive the cranes as pests due to their nesting habits in paddy fields, leading to the destruction of nests and eggs.
- Broader Threats like industrialization, further land use change, and the impacts of climate change: These threats not only directly impact the habitat of the cranes but also disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems they rely on.
- Lack of Awareness: Many farmers may not be aware of its for the agrarian ecosystem. Without proper sensitization and education, they may continue to view the cranes as pests rather than valuable contributors to pest management and biodiversity conservation.
- Limited Resources: Implementing conservation initiatives requires resources such as funding, manpower, and technical expertise. In rural areas where resources are often limited, mobilizing support for conservation efforts can be challenging.
Conservation Initiatives:
- WWF-India:
- Provide technical support for the restoration and management of key wetlands, such as the Surajpur wetland in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
- Two wetlands in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh have been adopted for restoration activities.
- Local communities are made aware of the hazards of releasing agrochemicals into the wetlands and discouraged to continue such practices harming the wetland.
- Set up the Sarus Crane Conservation Committee in Uttar Pradesh. It also assists the state in developing projects to enhance Sarus crane conservation initiatives.
- Sarus Crane Conservation Programme in Gujarat’s Kheda and Anand districts: It is focused on conserving the Sarus crane population, building partnerships with the forest department and the community, educating farmers and local communities and building capacity to sustain the conservation efforts.
