In December 2023, the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), with support from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India, released the policy document State-level Action Plan for Implementing SACON's Visionary Perspective Plan for Conservation of Avian Diversity, their Ecosystems, Habitats & Landscapes in the Country; Delhi–NCR (download it here). Almost one-third of India's bird species have been recorded in the National Capital Region, one of the fastest-growing urban areas globally, and it is thus an important area for bird monitoring and conservation.
Following consultation with various stakeholders—forest managers, academic communities, NGOs, birdwatchers and policymakers—the new policy document identifies management priorities, strategic approaches, conservation problems and financing for conserving avian diversity, habitats and landscapes, under 14 thematic areas: (1) conservation of rare and threatened species, (2) conservation of birds outside protected areas, (3) conservation of birds within protected areas, (4) conservation of birds at the landscape scale, (5) conservation of wetland birds, (6) conservation of migratory birds, (7) impacts of development projects and anthropogenic activities, (8) illegal trafficking of birds, (9) conservation of urban birds, (10) surveillance of avian diseases, (11) nature education and the importance of birds, (12) capacity building, (13) mainstreaming bird conservation in government schemes, and (14) implementation of international protocols and conventions in bird conservation. The plan will aid policymakers conserve avifauna and their habitats as they align with the principles and policies enunciated in the September 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi.
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