Side Event

Smart Protected Areas (PAs) and Bird Ringing Atlas

Organizer
Bombay Natural History Society

Date and Time
10 October 2014 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

This year, India has communicated its new National Biodiversity Targets to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which are guided by the Aichi targets. Working towards mainstreaming biodiversity conservation, one of the new National Biodiversity Target pertains to 'protection of ecologically representative areas', including Important Bird areas, coastal and marine areas. Identifying 'effective area-based conservation measures', this important new target can be an important tool to plug the gaps from existing conservation measures, like national parks and sanctuaries. The BNHS side event will highlight biologically rich areas which need management or conservation inputs, but through ways that are non-traditional, smart and effectively 'appropriate'. These measures will include managing the site for a few months of the year to restore species diversity or abundance, tackling new threats like invasive alien species spread; and considering existing livelihood options for people. Apart from fulfilling the new Indian National Biodiversity Targets for biologically rich but non-notified wildlife areas, this side event will also recommend measures which work effectively towards mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in human life. BNHS will also release a preview of an atlas of Bird Ringing and Bird Recovery in India, which identifies areas which need conservation or management during crucial and specific times, such as migration and breeding. This Atlas identifies areas that are critical for bird populations on the Central Asian Flyway, which exist in anthropogenic landscapes. This is the first time a comprehensive mapping of ringed birds has been undertaken for India. This publication fulfills Aichi Target 1 of making biodiversity values well known and Aichi Target 12, towards threatened species protection.