31st March 2025 (31 Topics)

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Targeted Conservation Efforts

Context

A global study published in PLOS Biology has revealed the significant impact of targeted conservation efforts in preventing the extinction of numerous animal species. The study highlights how species-specific conservation actions have led to positive changes in the status of various species, showing that well-planned, focused interventions can indeed turn the tide in the fight against global biodiversity loss.

How Have Targeted Conservation Efforts Impacted Global Biodiversity?

Direct Impact:
- Nearly 99.3% of species that improved in the IUCN Red List category since 1980 benefited from conservation actions.
- Among 969 species with increasing populations, 78.3% had active conservation interventions in place.
Species-Specific Outcomes:
Iberian Lynx: From a near extinction crisis, the Iberian lynx population has grown from just a few hundred to several thousand individuals through targeted breeding programs and habitat management.
K?k?p?: The critically endangered nocturnal parrot of New Zealand, the k?k?p?, saw recovery thanks to intensive monitoring and predator control measures.
European Bison: This species was hunted to extinction in the wild during the early 20th century but is now thriving in parts of Eastern Europe through successful reintroduction programs.
Whales: Populations of humpback and blue whales, which were decimated by commercial whaling, have rebounded significantly following the international moratorium on whaling.

India's Species-Specific Conservation Programme

Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH-2008): Approved for continuation during the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021–26), this program strengthens conservation efforts for critically endangered species through captive breeding, habitat restoration, and community participation.
Species Recovery Programme: This program prioritizes 22 species, including 16 terrestrial and 6 aquatic, for focused conservation efforts. Some of the key projects include:
- Project Tiger (1973): A flagship initiative focused on the conservation of tigers in India.
- Project Elephant (1992): Launched to ensure the protection and conservation of elephants in India.
- Project Lion & Project Cheetah: These projects aim to protect Asiatic lions and reintroduce cheetahs into the wild after their extinction in India in 1952.
Project Crocodile (1975): Initiated by the UN and the Government of India, this project boosted crocodile populations, particularly in Bhitarkanika, where the saltwater crocodile population increased from 95 individuals in 1975 to 1,811.
Sea Turtle Conservation Project (1999): Focusing on the conservation of Olive Ridley turtles and other sea turtles, particularly in Odisha, this project has been instrumental in protecting nesting sites.
Vulture Conservation Plan (2020-25): Launched to address the decline in vulture populations due to the widespread use of Diclofenac, a harmful drug, this plan seeks to minimize its use and prevent vulture deaths from poisoned carcasses. The Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre (VCBC) in Haryana plays a key role in supporting vulture recovery efforts.
Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (2005): This project aims to increase the population of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in Assam. The rhino population in Kaziranga National Park now exceeds 2,600 individuals (as of 2022).
Pangolin Conservation Efforts: The Maharashtra forest department has introduced a dedicated action plan for pangolin conservation. These shy creatures are listed under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, ensuring they receive the highest degree of protection.
Project Cheetah (2022): After being extinct in India for over 70 years, cheetahs have been reintroduced in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The first cheetah birth in India’s wild was recorded in 2023.

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Targeted Conservation Efforts

How Have Targeted Conservation Efforts Impacted Global Biodiversity?

India's Species-Specific Conservation Programme