Project GIB (Great Indian Bustard)
Context: Project GIB added 3 more chicks, taking the captive stock to 94 birds, with 26 chicks hatched in the fourth year of captive breeding.
Conservation Efforts
- Project GIB was launched in 2018 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife Institute of India, and Rajasthan Forest Department.
- It is covered under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme of MoEFCC.
- A breeding centre was established in 2019 at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer.
About Great Indian Bustard
- GIB is India’s most critically endangered bird and the State bird of Rajasthan.
- It is regarded as a flagship species representing the health of grassland ecosystems.
- India has four bustard species: GIB, Lesser Florican, Bengal Florican, and Macqueen’s Bustard.
- GIB is omnivorous and vulnerable to power line collisions due to lack of frontal vision.
- It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, mainly found in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, with small populations in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
- CITES: Appendix I.
- CMS (Convention on Migratory Species): Appendix I.
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
Indore Declaration on Agriculture (BRICS)
Context: The BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held in Indore concluded with the unanimous adoption of the “Indore Declaration”, marking a milestone in global agricultural cooperation.
About the Meeting
- Nearly 100 delegates participated, including around 60 foreign representatives from BRICS member and partner countries.
- BRICS countries represent nearly half of the world’s population, possess around 42% of global agricultural land, and contribute approximately 42% of global foodgrain production.
- India currently holds the BRICS Presidency under PM Narendra Modi.
Four Key Priorities
- Food and nutritional security for BRICS countries and the world.
- Promotion of agricultural trade and cooperation among BRICS nations.
- Regenerative, climate-resilient, and sustainable farming practices.
- Strengthening innovation, technology, and partnerships in food systems and agriculture.
Four New Institutional Initiatives Announced
- BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture: India’s centre of excellence will be the Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram.
- BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture: To be coordinated by IIT Delhi, focusing on AI, geospatial technologies, and digital public infrastructure.
- Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems: Focused on protecting farmers’ rights, conserving indigenous seed diversity, and preserving traditional knowledge.
- BRICS AgriN (Agro Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network): Strengthens cooperation in agricultural inputs, seeds, and genetic resources.
