Biodiversity in Indian forests Forestry in India

spotted owlet - 1 of on 1000 bird species in indian forests



asian golden cat, 1 of 15 feline species found in india



asian paradise flycatcher – bird found in forests of himachal pradesh , uttarakhand.

indian forests more trees , economic resource. home of earth s unique flora , fauna.

indian forests represent 1 of 12 mega biodiverse regions of world. india s western ghats , eastern himalayas amongst 32 biodiversity hotspots on earth.

india home 12% of world s recorded flora, 47000 species of flowering , non-flowering plants. on 59000 species of insects, 2500 species of fishes, 17000 species of angiosperms live in indian forests. 90000 animal species, representing on 7% of earth s recorded faunal species have been found in indian forests. on 4000 mammal species found here. india has 1 of richest variety of bird species on earth, hosting 12.5% of known species of birds. many of these flora , fauna species endemic india.

indian forests , wetlands serve temporary home many migrant birds.

trading in exotic birds

india was, until 1991, 1 of largest exporters of wild birds international bird markets. of birds traded parakeets , munias. of these birds exported countries in europe , middle east.

in 1991, india passed law banned trade , trapping of indigenous birds in country. passage of law stopped legal exports, illegal trafficking has continued. in 2001, example, attempt smuggle 10,000 wild birds discovered, , these birds confiscated @ mumbai international airport.

according wwf-india published report, trapping , trading of 300 species of birds continues in india, representing 25% of known species in country. tens of thousands of birds trapped forests of india, , traded every month serve demand bird pets. market driver bird trapping , trade segment of indians on religious occasions, buy birds in captivity , free them act of kindness living beings of world. trappers , traders know of need piety in these people, , ensure reliable supply of wild birds can satisfy urge good.

the trappers, detailed survey , investigation reveals tribal communities. trappers lead life of poverty , migrate on time. primary motivation economics , need financially support families.

trapping , transport of trapped birds india s forests has high injury , losses, in other parts of world. every bird reaches market sale, many more die.

abrar ahmed, wwf-india , traffic-india ornithologist, suggests following potentially effective means of stopping harm caused illegal trading of wild birds in india:

engage tribal communities in constructive way. instead of criminalising skills @ finding, recognising, attracting , capturing birds, india should offer them employment re-apply skills through scientific management, protection , wildlife preservation.
allow captive , humane breeding of species of birds, satisfy market demand pet birds.
better , continuous enforcement prevent trapping practices, stop trading , end smuggling of wild birds of india through neighboring countries have not banned trading of wild birds.
education , continued media exposure of ecological , environmental harm done wild bird trade, in order reduce demand trapped wild birds pets.




^ india s forests: conservation (pdf). moef, government of india. 2009. 
^ india s black market in birds threatening rare species . national geographic. 2 october 2002. 
^ abrar ahmed (1997). live bird trade in northern india . wwf india. 
^ abrar ahmed (2010). imperilled custodians of night: study of illegal trade, trapping , use of owls in india (pdf). traffic india , wwf-india.