Elusive Heron Faces Extinction from Hydro Project

The critically endangered white-bellied heron, a species with a mere six to nine individuals estimated in India, is imperiled by a proposed 1,200 MW hydroelectric power project. This development on the Lohit River basin, which harbors 70% of India's white-bellied heron population, necessitates the felling of over 33,000 trees.

Experts warn that the project's alteration of water flow and turbidity could lead to the bird's local extinction. The mature riparian forests, crucial for the heron's roosting and nesting, are also slated for clearing and submersion, severely impacting breeding success.

Further compounding concerns, the project's environmental impact assessment, prepared by WAPCOS, Ltd, did not include the white-bellied heron. This omission occurred despite the Lohit River basin being a key habitat for the species, highlighting a significant oversight in ecological evaluation.

Local communities have also voiced strong opposition since 2008, citing concerns over land submergence and the unreliability of the project's baseline data. The Forest Advisory Committee granted in-principle clearance, while compensatory afforestation is planned over a thousand kilometers away.

Conservationists emphasize the need for a basin-level approach, viewing the Lohit River as a connected habitat rather than isolated sites. They advocate for urgent, war-footing conservation efforts, including potential conservation breeding centers modeled after Bhutan's successful program.