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Punjab Wetlands See Alarming Drop in Migratory Birds
22 Apr
Summary
- Migratory bird populations in Punjab's key wetlands declined significantly over five years.
- Deteriorating habitats and weak environmental enforcement are major causes.
- Six major wetlands, including five Ramsar sites, are covered in the report.
Punjab's forest department has reported a significant decline in migratory bird populations across its major wetlands over the last five years. The numbers have fallen from approximately 90,000 to around 71,000, raising serious concerns about conservation efforts and the ecological health of these vital habitats.
Experts cite habitat degradation, escalating pollution, and illegal hunting as primary drivers for this worrying trend. Ineffective implementation of wildlife protection laws and gaps in monitoring systems exacerbate the problem. These wetlands, crucial for biodiversity, provide essential grounds for over 90 species migrating from regions like Siberia and Russia.
The report, compiled by the forest department in collaboration with leading scientific institutions, surveyed six key wetlands including Harike, Nangal, and Keshopur. While migratory birds typically arrive in October and peak between November and February, recent observations show a noticeable decrease in sightings across several sites.
Conservationists emphasize the urgent need for targeted strategies to reverse this decline. Without focused efforts, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas, the diminishing numbers of migratory birds could pose a substantial threat to the region's overall biodiversity.
