50% mammals face habitat loss: Government

NEW DELHI: Scientific studies conducted by many organisations have shown that around 50 per cent of mammals are facing habitat loss due to biotic pressures, Lok Sabha was informed today.

"As per the scientific studies conducted by many reputed organisations including Zoological Survey of India ( ZSI), about 50 per cent mammalian fauna have shrunk in their distributional range due to various anthropogenic pressures.

"The habitat loss of mammals is also attributed to the biotic pressure that the habitats of the mammalian fauna experience," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

He said that despite "huge" biotic pressure, (about 1/5th of world's population and also about 1/5th of cattle population of the world), India hosts around eight per cent of the world's biodiversity.

Some of the important steps taken by the government for conservation of bilogical diversity include survey and inventorisation of biological resources, assessment of forest cover to develop an accurate database for planning and monitoring and establishment of protected area networks, the Minister said.

Besides, some steps include designating biosphere reserves and undertaking species oriented programmes like Project Tiger and Elephant amongst others, he said.

"In addition, Biological Diversity Act 2002 has been enacted which aims at conserving biological resources of the country and regulating access to these resources to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use," Javadekar said.

A National Biodiversity Authority and State Biodiversity Boards have been set up for implementing the provisions of the Act, the Union Minister said.