Question : Central Asian Flyway Action Plan

(a) whether the Government has launched Central Asian Flyway Action Plan recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the aims and objective behind the move;
(c) whether the Government has set any time-frame for implementation of action plan and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of bird species that will be prioritized under the action plan; and
(e) whether the Government has identified wetlands and wetland clusters for conservation as they are the congregation sites for several migratory water bird species and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a), (b) and (c) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched the ‘National Action Plan for conservation of migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway’. The Action Plan emphasizes on coordinated efforts of all relevant stakeholders in conservation of migratory birds.
India provides a critical stopover as well as wintering habitats to more than 370 species of migratory birds and for ensuring healthy populations of the migratory species in India, within their range across the Central Asian Flyway, this National Action Plan has been developed. The Action Plan has been prepared for a period of five years.

(d) The following 20 species of migratory birds have been prioritized under the National Central Asian Flyway Action Plan:

1. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
2. Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola)
3. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
4. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
5. Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
6. Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)
7. Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis)
8. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
9. Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus minor)
10. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
11. Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
12. Lesser Sand plover (Charadrius mongolus)
13. Black-bellied Tern (Sterna acuticauda)
14. Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
15. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
16. Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola)
17. White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)
18. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
19. European roller (Coracias garrulous)
20. Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious)

(e) The details of wetlands and wetland clusters prioritized for conservation of migratory water birds under the National Central Asian Flyway Action Plan is at Annexure-1.


***