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An international network of Siberian Crane Conservation Natural Sites will be set up to protect the cranes and restore their ecosystem. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur, Rajasthan is one of the 21 sites, proposed under the network.
This was decided here yesterday in a meeting of the Siberian crane harbouring range States, held under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS). A Task Force was also established for identifying the potential Siberian Crane sites and for developing appropriate conservation and management action plan. India was nominated as one of the members of the Task Force.
The meeting, organized by Ministry of Environment and Forests, was attended by over 60 delegates from the 10 Range States, CMS, Wetland International, Bombay Natural History Society, International Crane Foundation and other observers.
Minister of Environment and Forests Thiru A. Raja had said earlier that India would strongly support all initiatives to welcome back the Siberian Crane to the existing and future network of wetlands, adding that the country attaches significance of the highest degree to the resident waterbirds as well as migratory waterbirds, being considered as a National Heritage.
India supports more than 1200 species of birds, of which more than 250 species are waterbirds. Many of these species are migratory, which require conducive habitats, which are located in different countries across North, Central and Southern Asia.
AKS/rs
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