Current Science

Nishikant Gupta ¹, Rajeev Raghavan ², K. Sivakumar ³, Vinod B. Mathur ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Geography, King’s College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, GB
2 Conservation Research Group, St Albert’s College, Kochi 682 011, IN
3 Department of Endangered Species Management, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Nishikant Gupta ¹, Asha Rajvanshi ¹, S. Sathyakumar ¹, J. A. Johnson ¹, K. Sivakumar ¹, G. S. Rawat ¹, Vinod B. Mathur ¹

Affiliations
1 Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

The Indian Himalaya continues to face increasing anthropogenic stressors despite numerous conservation actions. Further, climate change has the potential to negatively affect this biodiversity rich region. To counteract the changing climatic variables, targeted education programmes could act as a strategy and assist in protecting the floral/faunal species requiring urgent intervention, and benefit communities and ecosystems at large.

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K. Sivakumar ¹, Ritesh Joshi ²

Affiliations
1 Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN
2 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi 110 003, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Kartikeya Sharma ¹, Nishikant Gupta ², J. A. Johnson ², K. Sivakumar ²

Affiliations
1 Sinola House, Village and P.O. Sinola, Dehradun 248 003, IN
2 Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

Rivers provide ecological and socio-economic benefits despite being highly threatened ecosystems. They continue to face anthropogenic and natural stresses. The Aglar in the Indian Himalaya is an important tributary of the Yamuna River, and hosts the annual 'fish festival' of the region. Field studies have revealed that this festival could harm endemic/threatened fish species of the Aglar. Lethal methods such as the use of bleaching powder and electricity should be banned; instead angling and cast netting in a regulated way could be promoted.

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J. A. Johnson ¹, K. Sivakumar ¹, Jordan Rosenfeld ²

Affiliations
1 Wildlife Institute of India, # 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN
2 Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, CA

Abstract

Fish habitat requirements are an essential aspect of the estimation of environmental flows. In India, a few studies have proposed environmental flows for the major rivers on the basis of qualitative observation or expert opinion. As part of a study regarding the effect of altered flow across the Godavari river on fishes, we estimated flow requirement of the fishes using a physical habitat simulation model (PHABSIM). This model uses habitat requirement of selected fish species in the form of habitat suitability curves (HSCs) against river habitat availability. We developed HSCs for five economically important fishes (Bangana dero, Cirrhinus cirrhosus, Labeo calbasu, Labeo fimbriatus and Wallago attu). These HSCs indicate that B. dero prefers high velocities (0.9–1.2 m/s) compared with the other species and that L. fimbriatus prefers deeper areas (1.2–1.5 m). C. cirrhosus uses low flows with moderate depth (0.3–0.6 m/s; 0.6–1.5 m). The HSCs were used in PHABSIM along with instream habitat data recorded from four cross-sections to predict the weighted usable areas (WUAs) of the fishes. The relationship between habitat area and discharge was used to predict the minimum acceptable flow for maintaining fish habitats. On the basis of the WUA–discharge relationship curve, 26% of the mean flow was recommended as the minimum ecological flow required below the Polavaram dam of Godavari river.

Keywords

Environmental Flow, Habitat Suitability Curves, Instream Flow Incremental Methodology, River Fishes.

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P. Ragavan , K. Sivakumar , R. S. C. Jayaraj , P. M. Mohan , T. S. Rana

Abstract

No Abstract,

Keywords

No Keywords.

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P. Ragavan ¹, K. Sivakumar ², R. S. C. Jayaraj ³, P. M. Mohan ⁴, T. S. Rana ¹

Affiliations
1 CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Post Box No. 436, Lucknow 226 001, IN
2 Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parengipettai 608 502,, IN
3 Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat 785 010, IN
4 Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair 744 112, IN

Abstract

Increasing soil carbon stocks and protecting carbon-rich soils are crucial for achieving the Paris climate targets. Mangrove forests are the potential carbon sinks for mitigating the growing greenhouse gas emissions due to their highest carbon storage capacity per unit area compared to terrestrial forests. Furthermore, restricted global distribution of mangroves testifies their role in climate change mitigation as most effective at the national level rather than on a global scale. Nevertheless, lack of reliable estimates, insufficient data, discrepancy in the available data, increasing degradation rates and failure of conservation endeavours signify that we are missing the carbon storage potential of mangrove soil. So, here we emphasize the imperative need of country-wise site-specific precise estimates and an understanding of the spatial distribution of mangrove soil carbon stocks to recognize the actual climate mitigation potential of the mangroves as well as strengthen the conservation measures for the sustainability of mangroves.

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Sagar Rajpurkar ¹, Anant Pande ¹, Sajal Sharma ¹, Swapnali Gole ¹, Sohini Dudhat ¹, J. A. Johnson ¹, K. Sivakumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

Keywords

No Keywords.

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K. V. Akhilesh ¹, Shoba Joe Kizhakudan ¹, M. Muktha ¹, T. M. Najmudeen ¹, Sujitha Thomas ¹, Divya Karnad ², Dipani Sutaria ³, Merwyn Fernandes ⁴, Trisha Gupta ⁵, Naveen Namboothri ⁵, Vardhan Patankar ⁶, Swatipriyanka Sen ¹, Sijo P. Varghese ⁷, A. Biju Kumar ⁸, Alissa Barnes ⁵, K. K. Bineesh ⁹, Sajan John ¹⁰, Mayuresh Gangal ¹¹, M. Hashim ¹², Vinod Malayilethu ¹³, Zoya Tyabji ⁶, Malaika Vaz ¹⁴, Sandhya Sukumaran ¹, G. B. Purushottama ¹, Livi Wilson ¹, V. Mahesh ¹, Rekha J. Nair ¹, L. Remya ¹, Shikha Rahangdale ¹, P. P. Manojkumar ¹, K. Sivakumar ¹⁵, E. Vivekanandan ¹, P. U. Zacharia ¹, A. Gopalakrishnan ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682 018, IN
2 Department of Environmental Studies, Ashoka University, Sonipat 131 029, IN
3 9 Aranya Farms, Shilaj, Ahmedabad 382 115, IN
4 TRAFFIC India Office, New Delhi 110 003, IN
5 Dakshin Foundation, #1818, 9th Cross, 5th Main Road, Sahakar Nagar, Bengaluru 560 092, IN
6 Wildlife Conservation Society-India, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, 2nd Phase, Bengaluru 560 097, IN
7 Fishery Survey of India, Cochin Base, Kochi 682 005, IN
8 Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, IN
9 Zoological Survey of India, Chennai 600 028, IN
10 Wildlife Trust of India, Delhi 201 301, IN
11 Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru 570 017, IN
12 Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kochi 682 508, IN
13 WWF-India, ‘Prasanthi’, Kadavanthra, Kochi 682 020, IN
14 Untamed Planet Films, Bengaluru 560 001, IN
15 Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

Historically, India has been projected as one of the major elasmobranch fishing nations in the world. However, management and conservation efforts are not commensurate with this trend. Along with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, several generic conservation measures are in place at the regional/local level. But India is still a long way from meeting global conservation commitments. We present here the status of elasmobranch management and conservation in India, with the specific objective of identifying the gaps in the existing set-up. We also present recommendations based on a national consultative workshop held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, in February 2020. We recommend the implementation of a National Plan of Action (NPOA-Sharks) and more inclusive governance and policymaking for elasmobranch conservation in India.

Keywords

Consultative Meeting, Elasmobranch, Fisheries, Management and Conservation, Regulations.

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