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Grasslands in Peril: India's Unique Bird Species Face Alarming Threats
15 Oct
Summary
- 8 of 12 Indian bird species reassessed have been 'downlisted' to better conservation status
- 4 species, including Indian Courser and Long-billed Grasshopper-warbler, have been 'uplisted' to more threatened categories
- Open natural ecosystems like grasslands, scrublands, and croplands under pressure from development, agriculture, and afforestation
A comprehensive reassessment of 1,360 bird species worldwide has revealed concerning trends for India's avian populations. While 8 of the 12 Indian species evaluated saw improvements in their conservation status, 4 others have been uplisted to more threatened categories.
The Indian Courser, a bird endemic to the Indian subcontinent, has been reclassified from Least Concern to Near Threatened. Other species like the Indian Roller and Rufous-tailed Lark have also been uplisted to Near Threatened, and the Long-billed Grasshopper-warbler is now categorized as Endangered.
Experts warn that the decline of these species, which rely on open natural ecosystems such as grasslands, semi-arid landscapes, and croplands, highlights the critical need to conserve these vanishing habitats. Factors like the expansion of power infrastructure, intensification of agriculture, and even afforestation have put immense pressure on these fragile environments.
"The uplisting of the Indian Courser is not just a warning—it's an alarm bell for India's vanishing grasslands," said Sujit Narawde, Deputy Director of the Bombay Natural History Society. "If we don't act now to protect and restore natural grasslands, we risk losing the very species that define our open country."
The data for this reassessment was primarily drawn from the comprehensive State of India's Birds report, which leverages citizen science observations to analyze population trends and conservation status for hundreds of bird species across the country.
