According to a report by Birdlife International, 422 wetlands, grasslands, and forests in India have been identified as significant for numerous species of migratory birds that travel along the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) region. This number is the highest among the 30 countries in the CAF region, with 19 wetlands in Gujarat being included. The report, titled “Central Asian Flyway Situation Analysis, 2023,” was published on January 30 and is part of the agenda for the 14th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The report was prepared by Birdlife International after conducting national consultations and studying various databases and agreements related to the CAF region in 2022-23.
The report highlights that the Central Asian Flyway is often neglected in terms of knowledge and conservation efforts compared to other flyways used by migratory birds. It emphasizes the importance of migratory birds as indicators of environmental health and the need to protect their habitats. The decline in migratory bird populations signifies environmental degradation, which can have implications for millions of people who rely on the same sites for resources and environmental services.
India’s proposal to establish an initiative for the conservation of birds and their habitats in the CAF region is praised in the report. Birdlife International considers this proposal as a starting point for developing an institutional framework. India’s proposal to establish a CAF secretariat office is also scheduled for discussion during COP14.
The report provides a list of 1717 internationally important sites for migratory birds, with India having the highest number of sites at 422. These sites are distributed across various states, with Gujarat having 19 sites. The report includes a working list of sites from other CAF region countries, with Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Iran, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan being among the countries with significant numbers of these sites.
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