Researcher in the field of avian ecology & biodiversity in the lesser Himalayas.
Kukreti M, Bhatt D. 2014. Birds of Lansdowne forest division and adjacent suburban landscapes, Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India: Community structure and seasonal distribution. Biodiversitas 15: 80-88. This study of bird species diversity aims at understanding the distribution patterns and structures of avifauna of the two forest ranges and adjoining suburban areas of the Lansdowne forest division, Uttarakhand, India. Data on the abundance and richness were collected by standardized Verner’s line transect method for two years (January 2011 to December 2012). A total of 216 species were recorded from the study area. Family Muscicapidae with 30 species was found to be dominant in the forest habitats, while family Corvidae with 10 species was found to be dominant in the suburban areas. Results indicate that the forests had more complex bird community structure in terms of higher species richness (8.95 vs 8.59), higher species diversity (0.085 vs 0.080) and more rare species (74 vs 15) as compared to urban habitats. Bird species richness (BSR) and bird species diversity (BSD) fluctuated across seasons but not across habitat types. In order to sustain avian diversity, it is recommended that anthropogenic disturbance should be reduced and traditional agroforestry should be developed in the study area.
This paper in particular deals with the analysis and reviews of the ecotourism policies and the framework of the state of Uttarakhand and the Indian government. In general, it evaluates and discusses the future and significance of the natural resources for the development of the community-based ecotourism in Uttarakhand for the sustainable development of the villages including conservation of biological diversity. This paper argues that the homestay programme, if encouraged, might help the state to achieve its goal of ecotourism and the green economy. Tourism was given an industry status by the government of Uttarakhand in 2018, providing attractive incentives and subsidies. Nevertheless, there is still a need for the appropriate policy framework for the better management of the natural resources, development and the training of the various stakeholders and the entrepreneurs involved in the community-based ecotourism industry.
The wild animals cause losses to agriculture crop yields. The present study focuses on the assessment of agricultural damage caused by these wild animals in villages adjacent to protected areas and located in Najibabad forest division in Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh). The results showed that elephant (Elephas maximus) is the most problematic animal responsible for crop raiding followed by nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus). The sugarcane fields closer to the forest edge are raided more by elephants in comparison to rice, wheat and vegetables. This study recommended that active participation of stakeholders with the help of forest officials can help in mitigating crop raiding incidences in future.
We report the sighting of a large flock of immature Gyps himalayensis (Hume, 1869) in the Garhwal Himalayas area of the outer Himalayan range. This avian species is classified as near–threatened according to the IUCN Red List. We recommend future surveys and documentation of breeding and juvenile vagrant sites in this area in order to determine population numbers, moult and breeding schedules, and population trends in the area.
This article presents different nesting strategies of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) during the 2018 breeding season in a rural area of the outer western Himalayas of Uttarakhand state, India. These observations show house sparrows breeding in a usurped nest of red-rumped swallows (Cecropis daurica), probably the first such record from the western part of India. The unusual use of an anthropogenic object, a shoe, as a nest site was observed. However, more generally, a preference for secondary cavity-nesting strategies associated with the traditional, concrete, and modified traditional houses was found. Behavioural strategies associated with these breeding records have also been reported in this study, showing short-term adaptation or behavioural flexibility of the house sparrow to cope with intra- and interspecific pressures in the breeding season.
