Source: TH
Subject: Species in news
Context: The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) returned to spotlight after Supreme Court Justice P.S. Narasimha observed that Western-origin environmental doctrines like “inter-generational equity” are inadequate to save critically endangered species.
About the Great Indian Bustard:
What it is?
- The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
- Once widespread across India and Pakistan, it now survives in small pockets—mainly the Thar Desert (Rajasthan) and parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
Habitat: Prefers arid and semi-arid grasslands with sparse vegetation, often sharing its habitat with blackbucks and chinkaras. It nests on open, undisturbed plains, making it highly vulnerable to human activities.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
- CMS Convention: Appendix I
- Part of the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) species recovery programme
Physical Characteristics:
- Height: ~1 metre; Weight: 15–18 kg
- Distinctive black crown, white neck and underparts, and brown wings with grey and black markings
- Males have a prominent black breast band and a gular pouch that produces a booming mating call audible up to 500 m
- Diet: Omnivorous — feeds on grass seeds, insects, small reptiles, and rodents
About Intergenerational Equity:
- What it is?
- The principle of intergenerational equity holds that each generation acts as a trustee of the Earth, enjoying its resources while ensuring they are passed on to future generations in no worse condition.
- It forms the ethical and legal foundation of sustainable development.
- Core Principles:
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- Trusteeship: Every generation must protect and preserve the planet as a shared trust.
- Conservation of Options: Maintain resource diversity so future generations have comparable choices.
- Conservation of Quality: Preserve environmental quality—air, water, soil, biodiversity—for future resilience.
- Conservation of Access: Use resources equitably today without denying fair access to tomorrow’s users.
