The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy and Rainmatter Foundation invite you to the second episode of THE GREEN MANDATE Season 3, focusing on ‘Securing the Future of the Great Indian Bustard’.

Dr Asad Rahmani, renowned conservationist and former Director, Bombay Natural History Society and Dr Sumit Dookia, wildlife biologist and Associate Professor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha (GGSIP) University, Delhi will be in conversation with Debadityo Sinha, Lead – Climate & Ecosystems, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.

The discussion will take place in Lecture Room I, India International Centre-Annexe, New Delhi, on 21st November 2024 from 18:00 Hours IST.

About the Discussion

The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), one of India’s most iconic and critically endangered bird species, is native to the arid and semi-arid grasslands of the Indian subcontinent. Over the past decades, its population has faced a sharp decline, leading to its classification as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2011. Listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the GIB is among the world’s heaviest flying birds. It has disappeared from over 90% of its former range, including protected areas in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Today, only an estimated 100-125 individuals remain in the wild, with the Jaisalmer region in Rajasthan sheltering around 100 of them. Revered locally as the ‘Godavan’, it also holds the title of Rajasthan’s State bird.

A recent Supreme Court judgement has rekindled national attention on the GIB, balancing the rights of climate action against the urgent need for species conservation. This landmark case has intensified debates on reconciling biodiversity conservation with net-zero targets. There are also conservation breeding programmes by the government to reintroduce the GIB into its former habitats across other states. 

This discussion aims to spotlight the urgent, on-ground challenges and enforcement gaps threatening the GIB’s survival, from habitat degradation and climate change pressures to infrastructure expansion across its remaining range.

About the Speakers

Dr Asad Rafi Rahmani is a distinguished conservationist and former Director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). He currently serves as a Scientific Consultant for The Corbett Foundation and the Hem Chandra Mahindra Trust, and he is an active board member of BNHS. With extensive experience in various committees under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Dr Rahmani has authored 26 books, nearly 160 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 90 book reviews, and over 350 popular articles on nature conservation. His leadership roles have included serving as a Global Council member of BirdLife International (UK) and Chairman of the BirdLife Asia Council from 2006 to 2013.

Dr Rahmani has a profound interest in grassland and wetland birds, particularly in advocating for lesser-known species and habitats. He has guided 11 PhD students and has been recognized with multiple awards, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from Vasundhara, Pune, and Nature Mates, Kolkata, as well as being named a Member of Honour by BirdLife International. His extensive travels across India and to nearly 45 countries have enriched his perspective on both national and global conservation issues. He enjoys reading, writing, teaching, and travelling in his free time.

Dr Sumit Dookia, born and raised in western Rajasthan, brings a deep-rooted passion for community conservation, influenced by the initiatives of his family elders. A trained wildlife biologist, he has been dedicated to conservation efforts since 1999. His PhD focused on the ecology of the Indian Gazelle (Chinkara) in the Thar Desert. He has served as a Research Fellow at the Zoological Survey of India and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wildlife Institute of India. He has also served as a Scientist in Ornithology at BNHS, specialising in bird hazard studies for the Indian Air Force.

Dr Dookia’s current work emphasises the GIB as a keystone species in the Thar Desert, where he actively collaborates with local communities to promote conservation, improved livelihoods and sustainable development. His long-term research on the region’s mammals and birds has provided valuable insights into ecological changes and has contributed to the designation of five areas as Conservation Reserves. He has been an Associate Professor at the University School of Environment Management at GGSIP University since 2010. Dr. Dookia also serves as an Honorary Scientific Advisor to The ERDS Foundation, leading a project focused on GIB Community Conservation in western Rajasthan. His research interests include urban biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, landscape ecology, bat ecology, avian biology, wildlife acoustics, and community conservation.

About the Green Mandate

THE GREEN MANDATE is a platform for in-depth conversations on issues affecting current conservation challenges and aims to develop a more profound public discourse on the legal and policy aspects of conservation. Watch the previous two seasons of The Green Mandate here.

The Climate and Ecosystems team at Vidhi is supported by the Rainmatter Foundation and Sandeep Singhal.

Schedule

21st November 2024, Thursday, 18.00-19.30 HRS (IST) India International Centre, Lecture Room I, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi 110003 

17.30 hrs: High Tea 

18.00 hrs: Introduction of the Speakers 

18.10 hrs: Moderated Discussion with the Panellists 

19.00 hrs: Q&A Session with Audience 

19.30 hrs: Vote of Thanks

The event is open to all, but prior registration is recommended. Fill out the form below to RSVP. The event will not be live-streamed.