|
- By Parinda News Bureau, January 30, 2006, 09:51 IST
New Delhi: A two days International Workshop on Vulture Conservation is being organized by Ministry of Environment & Forests from 31st January in the capital. Delegates from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Cambodia and many international conservationists are expected to participate in this workshop to be inaugurated by Thiru A.Raja, Minister for Environment & Forests. The workshop would provide an opportunity to collate baseline status of vulture conservation in the region and develop a regional conservation plan for improved networking and coordination.
It may be noted that there has been a concern over decline in the population of vultures, specially the slender billed, long billed and white backed vultures in the Indian sub-continent. Due to the rapid decline, all the three Gyps species have been listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.Researches carried out in Pakistan and India has revealed that the cause of this decline was the use of Veterinary Diclofenac.Government of India have initiated ameliorative actions to prevent further decline and for further conservation through captive breeding of vultures. This issue also figured in the agenda of the meeting of the National Board for Wildlife held in March 2005 under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Dr .Manmohan Singh.Inter-ministerial discussions as well as consultations with pharmaceutical industry are on on this issue.A multi pronged strategy has been drawn up that includes banning of the veterinary diclofenac, ex-citu and in-situ conservation and extensive awareness campaign.
|
