India, Bhutan experts join hands to save black-necked crane

Itanagar: Described by environmentalists as a symbol of the “cultural identity of the Himalayan ecosystem”, the black-necked crane is facing a grim battle for survival, prompting experts in India and Bhutan to call for regional cooperation for the conservation of the species.

In order to discuss the current status and conservation measures related to the black-necked crane, a two-day Indo- Bhutan workshop on the species was organised, February 9-10, at Dirang in eastern Indian state Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district, which, incidentally, is also one of the birds’ wintering sites.

The workshop was organised by WWF-India in collaboration with the state’s forest department, and was attended by experts from India and Bhutan and community conservationists from Zemithang and Sangti valleys of Arunachal Pradesh.

The experts recommended joint conservation of the species by India and Bhutan by employing site-specific conservation measures under the regional black-neck crane conservation framework and regional-level policy and advocacy for the protection of the species.

There were also calls for strong community-based conservation in black-necked crane habitats and regular monitoring with experts saying that the species should be promoted as a cultural symbol of the Himalayan region.

The experts deliberated on a range of issues including the current status of the species at all key crane habitats in India and Bhutan.

Presentations were made on the current status and conservation issues related to the black-necked crane in Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The experts from Bhutan talked about a range of issues related to the conservation of the species in their country.

“There is a need to enhance the understanding of the impact of anthropogenic pressures and climate change on black-necked crane habitats and populations in the Indo-Bhutan region,” Tshering Phuntsho from the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN) of Bhutan said.

Workshop coordinator Pankaj Chandan, who is the head of the Western Himalayan Landscape of WWF-India, said: “This initiative is to protect and promote the black-necked crane as a symbol of the cultural identity of the Himalayan mountain ecosystems.”