(a) whether the Government are aware that a study has been conducted in London on decline of sparrow population;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether birds` population particularly of sparrow is dwindling in the country; and
(d) if so, the steps the Government propose to check the decline?
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a)&(b)Yes, Sir. As per the studies of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, United Kingdom and British Trust for Ornithology, there has been decline in the population of the House Sparrow in United Kingdom.
(c) Bombay Natural History Society has reported a decline in House Sparrow population in certain cities of the country. This is due to rapid urbanisation and consequent loss of habitat as well as loss of nesting material in these cities. However, the sparrow population is found in almost all the regions of the country and there is no immediate threat to its existence.
(d) Afforestation programmes are taken up in urban and rural areas which serve as habitat of various bird species including sparrow.