Technical Reports
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/7
Browse
21 results
Search Results
Item Research strategies for conservation of Coastal and Marine Biodiversity in the East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem (EGREE) Andhra Pradesh, India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and UNDP, 2012) Sivakumar, K.; Katlam, Gitanjali; Johnson, J.A.; Thulsi, K. Rao; Krishnan, Pramod; Kathula, Tarun; Sathiyaselvan, P.; Sivanadh, Y.Satya; Usa, P.Item Assessment of cumulative impacts of hydroelectric projects on Aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity in Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basins, Uttarakhand(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2012) Rajvanshi, Asha; Arora, Roshni; Mathur, V.B.; Sivakumar, K.; Sathyakumar, G.S.; Rawat, G.S.; Johnson, J.A.; Ramesh, K.; Dimri, Nandkishor; Maletha, AjayItem Status, distribution and conservation perspectives of lesser florican in the North-Western India: a survey report(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Bhardwaj, G.S.; Sivakumar, K.; Jhala, Y.V.The Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica, a species endemic to the Indian subcontinent, is largely seen during the monsoon season in north-western India, where it breeds. Its population and range is believed to be decreasing at an alarming rate due to breeding habitat loss and threats in the non-breeding habitats, believed to be in south and south-east India. In this connection, to understand the present status and distribution of Lesser florican in the north-western India i.e. in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, a survey following an established protocol (Sankaran 2000) was carried out in the month of August 2010, which is a part of breeding season of this species, when most of males display in the grasslands. A total of 84 individual Lesser Floricans (83 male and 1 female) were sighted in three states of north-western India, which is 65% less than the sightings reported in 1999 by Dr. Sankaran. It was found significantly fewer sightings than reported in 1999 in all grasslands surveyed (t=2.81, df=14, p<0.05). Of the 169 potential grasslands available for floricans in the north-western India, 91 grasslands were surveyed, which include grasslands surveyed during 1999. Of the surveyed grasslands, Lesser Floricans were found in 24 grasslands as against 37 grasslands in 1999. Among the three states, more sightings of Lesser Florican were reported in the state of Gujarat (N=54) followed by Rajasthan (N=18) and Madhya Pradesh (N=12). But in 1999, more sightings of florican were reported in Gujarat (N=141) followed by Madhya Pradesh (N=63) and Rajasthan (N=34). More than 55% of grasslands in Gujarat that were reported with florican in 1999 (Sankaran 2000) were observed without florican in 2010. More or less similar situation was in Madhya Pradesh also. Population and habitat of Lesser Florican in the north-western India was observed to be continuously declining at an alarming rate. Lack of a National Policy on grassland management, habitat degradation, plantations, poor landuse planning, pesticide pollution, invasive species, inadequate coverage of florican habitats in the Wildlife Protected Area Network and lack of knowledge on the non-breeding habitats of this species are observed to be major threats to this species.Item Status of marine and coastal environments and developing in Marine protected area network in India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2011) Choudhury, B.C.; Sivakumar, K.; Saravanan, K.R.The coastal and marine environment of Indian mainland has been studied in detail to assess the present status and to identify and prioritize potential sites for conservation as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBA), in addition to the existing Marine Protected Areas. Detailed surveys were carried out all along the coastline between 2006 and 2010. This study followed the standardized global, national and regional level approaches to develop a criteria with several indicators which were used to identify ICMBA sites in India. A state-wise site matrix was prepared and prioritized based on identified indicators considering the ecological, cultural and socio-economic values of respective sites. A total of 350 sites were visited all along east and west coasts of Indian mainland and, of these, 106 sites were identified and prioritized as ICMBA. Along the west coast of India a total of 62 ICMBAs were identified, while 44 ICMBAs along the east coast. Of these 106 ICMBA, 22 ICMBAs have been prioritized for immediate conservation actions. These sites are proposed for consideration of Protected Areas under various categories largely as Conservation or Communities Reserves. Indian Coastal and marine ecosystems are among the most biologically and economically productive ecosystems in the world where these ecosystems are both a source of livelihood as well as of a range of ecological services that are critical for the day to day well-being of millions of people particularly coastal communities. Despite their tremendous ecological and economic importance and the existence of a substantial policy and regulatory framework, India’s coastal and marine ecosystems are under increasing threat. Numerous direct and indirect pressures arising from different types of economic development and associated activities are having adverse impacts on coastal and marine biodiversity across the country. Major anthropogenic direct drivers of ecosystem degradation and destruction include habitat conversion to other forms of land use, overexploitation of species and associated destructive harvesting practices, the spread of invasive alien species, and the impacts of agricultural, domestic and industrial sewage and waste. Additionally, climate change is likely to have a growing impact on coastal and marine ecosystems, including a likely increase in extreme weather events as well as sea level rise, warming of the sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification. Coastal habitats are also subject to powerful natural weather phenomena, such as tsunami, cyclones, hurricanes and storms. Indirect drivers of ecosystem change include demographic, socio-political, cultural, economic and technological factors.Item Assessment of current status of threatened and protected marine flora and fauna in trade in India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2010) John, S.; Kumar, B.M. Praveen; Choudhury, B.C.; Sivakumar, K.The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, (WPA) prohibit the trade of protected marine species in India but illegal trade on these species was observed to be continuing in almost all maritime States and Union Territories. Illegal trade of these protected marine species was observed to be contributing marginal benefits to the rural fisher folks but it imperils the complex marine biodiversity in the country. Most of the elasmobranchs (Sharks, Rays and Skates) in India are threatened due to indiscriminate fishing. In India, seven species of marine elasmobranchs are protected by the WPA. Even though protected elasmobranchs were not encountered in the marine fish landing centres during the study period, their illegal trade cannot be completely ruled out. Majority of the elasmobranchs recorded in the fish landing centers were small in size. Ever increasing market demand for their meat, fins and cartilage are the major cause for this over exploitation. Among marine mammals the dugongs, dolphins and porpoises were caught either incidentally or deliberately in India. In many parts of coasts they have been traded in the domestic market although it was very occasional. Interviews with fisher folks revealed that dolphin meats were largely used for shark baiting than consumption. Occasional killing of dugong was also observed along the Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar, and Andaman Islands. Meat and eggs of marine turtles are consumed in many parts of the coastal India. Sea turtle landings are not rare on the southern coasts of India especially in the coastal areas between Tuticorin and Trivandrum. Illegal trade of sea turtle’s meat were also observed along the Indian coasts but it is rare or nil in Orissa. Vizhinjam harbor in Kerala is one of the major marine fish landing centers in India where the turtles were regularly traded in the open market. Protected marine mollusks and corals are also illegally collected and sold as curios in several parts of the country especially near the popular tourist beaches and pilgrimage centers. Most of these marine mollusks and corals are collected from the coral rich reefs around Gulf of Mannar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. Beside, large quantities of seashells are also imported from Tanzania, Philippines and Sri Lanka to meet the local market demand. The imported seashells are then processed in Kanyakumari, Rameswaram and Tuticorin before sending to markets. Therefore, it would be difficult to differentiate the source of these materials whether they have been collected locally or imported from other countries. These processed materials are then either exported to other countries or traded locally. The size classes of these marine mollusks which have been observed in the markets were significantly smaller than the average size observed in the literatures, which itself infer that the populations in the wild have been over exploited and larger sized seashells have already became rare. Domestic markets for the illegal trade of seashells and corals are concentrated largely around pilgrimage and tourist areas. Among the west coast, major illegal marine curio trade exists in the state of Goa. Among the east coast, major domestic curio market was found in Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu). Lack of awareness, poverty, market demand and feeble enforcement are the major reasons for continuation of illegal trade on protected marine species in India. Therefore, integrated marine biodiversity conservation plan along with plan to upliftment of fishermen community is required to prevent illegal trade forever. Further, strengthening of infrastructure and capacity of enforcement agencies is also required to curb these illegal activities in the country. Most importantly, there should be an integration and cooperation between line departments such as Police, Customs, Forest, Fisheries and Coast Guard to successfully curb marine wildlife illegal trade in India.Item A Bibliographic review: Identification and prioritization of research gaps in Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Conservation in the East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem (EGREE)(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Sivakumar, K.; Katlam, Gitanjali; Kathula, TarunItem Dugong distribution, habitat and risks due to Fisheries and other anthropogenic activities in India(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2013) Sivakumar, K.; Nair, A.The dugong (Dugong dugon), also called the sea cow, is one of the four surviving species in the order Sirenia, and it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea, including Indian waters. Conservation of the dugong, which is a flagship species, represents coastal conservation. This protected species occurs in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The population of the dugong, which was once abundant, is assumed to have reduced to about 200 individuals in India. This number and the range of the dugong are believed to be continuously declining. Several reasons have been attributed to the decline in the dugong population, including sea grass habitat loss and degradation, gill netting, disease, water pollutants, indigenous use and poaching. This study was initiated to understand the dugong’s current distribution range and the magnitude of the anthropogenic threats faced by it and its habitat in India. The objectives include (1) determining the status and distribution of the dugong population in India, (2) understanding the risks faced by the dugong populations and their habitats, (3) assessing the status of artisanal fisheries in identified dugong habitats, (4) identifying the key areas where dugongs are present to conserve them and (5) understanding the attitude of fishermen towards conservation of dugongs. Three zones, namely the Gulf of Kutch, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay were identified as the study area on the basis of information published on dugong sightings, stranding records and seagrass presence. A standardised dugong catch/bycatch questionnaire developed by the CMS-UNEP Dugong MOU Panel was used for interview surveys after it was translated into regional languages. Region-specific threats to the dugong and its habitat were identified. Occupancy models were built in the program PRESENCE to identify critical dugong habitats using dugong sighting data from the past 5 years (2008 to 2012). The range of variables that influenced occupancy and detection were also assessed. Dugong occupancy was greatest in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, followed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and lowest in the Gulf of Kutch. At present, the overall occupancy of the dugong in Indian waters is estimated to be 11% of the total surveyed area. Only 21% of the area sampled in Tamil Nadu was found to be occupied by dugongs. The corresponding proportion was 12% in the iii Andaman and Nicobar Islands and 1% in the Gulf of Kutch. Overall, the dugong distribution range has significantly decreased by about 85% in the distribution range of the dugong in India. Dugongs are also exist in regions outside the existing protected area (PA) network. Thus, conservation planning should also focus on dugong habitats outside PAs. Preventive measures, such as affording greater protection to dugongs and making fisheries sustainable with dugong friendly gear and craft, especially in the critical dugong habitats identified, are recommended. It is of the utmost importance to secure and strengthen community participation in the management of dugongs and their habitats in India. ModelItem Assessment of Ecological settings and biodiversity values of Papikonda National Park and Indira Sagar (Polavaram) Multipurpose project Impact zone in Andhra Pradesh for development of migratory measures(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Sivakumar, K.; Johnson, J.A,.; Gokulakkannan, N.; Ray, Paromita; Katlam, Gitanjali; Bagaria, PriyamvadaThe Indira Sagar (Polavaram Project) Multipurpose Project envisages the construction of a zoned earth-cum-rock fill dam with an impervious core across the Godavari River in Polavaram. This project also includes the construction of two canals, viz. the Right Main Canal, extending over a distance of 174 km, and the Left Canal, extending over a distance of 181.5 km. The Right Canal will connect the water-surplus Godavari River with the water-deficient Krishna River in Vijayawada and supply 80 tmcft (226 MCM) of water to Budameru in Vijayawada. The Left Canal is designed to provide water to 12 lakh acres in the northern coastal districts besides meeting the drinking water needs of the urban and rural areas around these. It will connect with the Yeleru canal to bring water for industries (Vizag steel plant) and a drinking water supply. It will also supply the northern coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam with irrigation water. Apart from boosting irrigation in the region, this project will also provide drinking water to 28 lakh people in 540 villages along the canals and generate around 960 MW of hydro-electricity. Despite these benefits, the project has come under scrutiny from various quarters, especially its adverse impacts on various ecosystems that are closely linked with the Godavari River. Further, an area of 3267 ha of land in Bhadrachalam (S), Bhadrachalam (N), Paloncha, Krishna, Eluru, Kakinada and Visakhapatnam forest divisions also needs to be diverted for submergence, construction of a power house, digging of canals, etc. In this context, as per the direction of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, vide their letter no. 8-123/2005-FC dated 26/29th December 2008, Point No. 7(ii), the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) initiated a short term (18-month) study to assess the impact of the project on the wild flora and fauna and the habitat and subsequently suggest mitigatory measures for the same. The status and distribution of certain taxa such as mammals, birds, herpertofauna and fishes were assessed using various census techniques. These included the use of line transects and camera traps and sign surveys for mammals, point counts for birds, quadrat methods for herpetofauna, CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) and market surveys for fishes and circular plots for vegetation assessment. Further, GIS and remote sensing tools were used to assess the land cover and land use pattern and potential impact of the project at the landscape level.Item Status and habitat assessment of Bengal florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in the Grasslands of Uttar Pradesh(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Sivakumar, K.; Bhardwaj, G.S.; Sen, S.; Sharma, R.; Dhavale, O.The present study was undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India with the aim of updating the status of the Bengal Florican and its habitat in the terai grasslands of Uttar Pradesh, especially in the landscape of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The findings of the present study suggest that the floricans are being sighted in new areas such as Pilibhit and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, compared with 1988, but that the population has declined across the distribution range in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, as reported earlier. However, the method that has traditionally been used to estimate the population of the Bengal Florican seems to have always given underestimates. Hence, a new method using an occupancy model with distance sampling has been validated and recommended by this study for estimating Bengal Florican populationsItem Compendium of Training Courses on Coastal and Marine Biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas in India(GIZ and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Mathur, V.B.; Khera, Neeraj; Sivakumar, K.Facilitating capacity development of individuals and institutions relevant to coastal and marine biodiversity conservation in India, through networking, trainings, and other measures and instruments, is one of the objectives of the ‘Conservation and Sustainable Management of Existing and Potential Coastal and Marine Protected Areas’ (CMPA) project under the Indo-German Biodiversity Programme.
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »