Ashwani Kumar Choubey says there are 150 GIB In Country as 11 Aug 2023

Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that there are about 150 Great Indian Bustards (GIB) in the country.

The impact assessment studies of the special drive on forest cover for the conservation of The Great Indian Bustard are carried out by the Ministry from time to time.

• The Ministry provides financial assistance to all states including Gujarat under the components of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Development of Wildlife Habitats for Conservation and Protection of the Great Indian Bustard to protect critically endangered species and their natural habitats.

• In addition, the environment ministry had approved an outlay of Rs 33.85 crore under CAMPA in the year 2016 for a program titled 'Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of the Great Indian Bustard - An Integrated Approach' for a period of seven years.

• An MoU has been signed between Wildlife Institute of India and International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), UAE for the conservation of Great Indian Bustard.

Great Indian Bustard (GIB):

• The GIB (Ardeotis Nigriceps) is the state bird of Rajasthan and is considered the most critically endangered bird in India.

• GIB are primarily considered to be the dominant species of grassland, found in grassland ecosystems.

• The main population of GIB is confined to Rajasthan and Gujarat. While GIB is also found sporadically in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Efforts made for the conservation of GIB:

• It is placed under the Species Recovery Program under Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• In June 2019, a conservation breeding facility has been set up at the Desert National Park in Jaisalmer by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Rajasthan and Wildlife Institute of India.

• The objective of the program is to increase the population of Great Indian Bustards by releasing chicks into the wild.

Project Great Indian Bustard:

• The Government of Rajasthan has launched 'Project Great Indian Bustard' with the objective of building breeding enclosures for this species and reducing human pressure on their habitats and infrastructure development.

Environment-friendly measures:

• Task force was constituted to suggest eco-friendly measures to reduce the impacts of power transmission lines and other power transmission infrastructure on wildlife, including the Great Indian Bustard.