PUNE: “Perfect habitat management and maintenance, particularly through the people’s participation, will save the bustards, especially species such as Bengal Florican, Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican, which are on the verge of getting extinct”, said conservationist Pramod Patil.

He was speaking at a news conference while sharing thoughts on the GIBs on the sidelines of the 5^th Vasundhara International Film Festival, on Saturday. India has hardly 300 GIBs remaining, out of these 35 to 40 are in Maharashtra, he believed.

Patil started the GIB Foundation in Pune a few months ago to create and spread the awareness and apply plans to save the GIBs. It has emphasized the importance of the National Recovery Plan for the bustards at the central-level and the Maharashtra State Emergency Conservation Plan at the state-level.

“The national plan and the state-level plans have been already prepared for the preservation of the bustards, especially for Bengal Florican, Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican. The plans have been made in such a way, keeping in mind the necessity to protect grasslands for bustard breeding, preserving their habitats and involving the public in these activities. We want to create optimistic pressure groups within the society, which can influence decision-makers”, mentioned Patil, who also works at the Nannaj Bustard Sanctuary, Solapur.

The plan regarding Maharashtra mainly focuses on breeding bustards in captivity, gathering international scientific and advisory support, and raising awareness on the bustard situation.

“Out of all these, what’s important more is finding connecting links between bustard conservation and community development, in which the bustard species are protected and communities involved can earn by protecting these birds. Consequently, research on the socio-economic aspects of the communities in relation to bustard protection, is considered necessary. Suggestions in the plans such as communities gaining from protecting grasslands through fodder production and eco-tourism for bustards will certainly help towards our cause”, said Patil.

He also stressed on the fact that appropriate funding and synchronization between the states and the union government is vital in realizing these plans. “We need active participation from the public. Therefore, we have recommended community representatives to be present at policy-level meets with key decision-makers”, added Patil.

The Project Bustard signature campaign happening at the festival is aiming to gather around 10,000 signatures of supporters, said festival director, Virendra Chitrav.

- Anuja Bagaitkar