Bird islands: On India’s bustard conservation programme

Published 2026-10-07 · Updated 2026-10-07 · 3 min · 577 words

UPSC CSE Context

Why in News

Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards were released into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, marking progress in the conservation breeding programme.

Syllabus Connection

Environment and Ecology: Conservation, biodiversity, species protection, and related policies.

Exam Relevance

High relevance for UPSC CSE due to the intersection of conservation, renewable energy, and judicial interventions; useful for both Prelims and Mains.

Core Issue

India's conservation approach is species-centric and symbolic, neglecting landscape-level habitat protection.

Key Development

Release of captive-bred Great Indian Bustards highlights success but also exposes the limitations of isolated conservation efforts.

Stakeholders

• Government of India
• Rajasthan Government
• Renewable energy companies
• Local communities
• Conservationists

Static Knowledge

High-Value Background

• The Great Indian Bustard is critically endangered, with a population of around 120 individuals, primarily in Rajasthan.
• The species faces threats from habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, power lines, and historical hunting.

Exam Linkage

• Useful for questions on biodiversity conservation, human-wildlife conflict, and environmental governance.

Concepts in Context

• Captive breeding and reintroduction are ex-situ conservation strategies.
• Landscape-level conservation focuses on preserving entire ecosystems rather than single species.

Institutions and Mechanisms

• Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, is a key protected area for the Great Indian Bustard.
• The Supreme Court of India has intervened to mandate undergrounding power lines in critical habitats.

Dynamic Analysis

Environment and Ecology

• Captive breeding success does not address the primary threats of habitat loss and power line collisions in the wild.
• Focus on charismatic species like bustards and tigers diverts attention from declining common bird populations.
• Grassland ecosystems, often undervalued as wastelands, require protection beyond species-specific measures.

Governance

• Conservation policies are driven by symbolism and bureaucratic events rather than ecological science.
• The Supreme Court's modified order reflects the challenge of balancing renewable energy goals with species protection.
• Lack of integrated land-use planning leads to fragmented habitats and increased human-wildlife conflict.

Economy

• Undergrounding power lines imposes high costs on renewable energy projects, affecting their viability.
• Eco-tourism and marketing of species like the Godawan can provide economic incentives for conservation.
• Compensation mechanisms for farmers affected by wildlife are inadequate, leading to resentment.

Society

• Conflict arises when conservation areas restrict traditional livelihoods without providing alternatives.

Prelims Takeaways

• Great Indian Bustard is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• Desert National Park is located in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Mains Value Addition

Arguments

• Species-centric conservation fails to address ecosystem-level threats and may lead to maladaptive outcomes.
• Judicial interventions in conservation must balance ecological needs with developmental imperatives.
• Community participation is essential for sustainable conservation, requiring economic incentives and conflict mitigation.

Examples

• The Great Indian Bustard conservation programme, with 97 birds in captivity and 57 captive-bred, illustrates ex-situ efforts.
• The Supreme Court's 2021 order on undergrounding power lines in bustard habitats highlights legal-environmental conflicts.

Data Points

• Great Indian Bustard population: around 120 individuals.
• 1,256 bird species (11.5% of world's total) are classified as threatened.

Counterpoints

• Captive breeding may not ensure survival in the wild if threats remain unmitigated.
• Undergrounding power lines could hinder renewable energy expansion, affecting climate goals.
• Focus on flagship species may neglect less charismatic but ecologically important species.

Way Forward

• Adopt landscape-level conservation planning that integrates protected areas with surrounding land uses.
• Promote community-based conservation through incentives, alternative livelihoods, and participatory governance.
• Develop technological solutions like bird diverters and undergrounding in critical habitats to reduce power line collisions.
• Strengthen environmental impact assessments to account for biodiversity in infrastructure projects.
• Increase funding for research and monitoring of lesser-known threatened species and their habitats.

Primary/reference source: thehindu.com