Nilgiri's Vanishing Grasslands: A Historical Study on Avian Biodiversity Loss
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Environment and Ecology (Biodiversity, Biodiversity Hotspots - Western Ghats, Endemic Species, Grassland Ecosystems, Conservation); Geography (Nilgiri Hills); Science & Technology (GIS, Remote Sensing).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Geography/History): Changes in critical geographical features; Role of colonial-era records in modern research.
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment & Biodiversity): Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; Biodiversity and its conservation. The issue of grassland conservation versus afforestation is a key theme.
Key Highlights from the News
A new study found that the population of almost 90% of birds living in the grassland habitats of the Nilgiri mountains, part of the Western Ghats, has significantly decreased over the past 170 years.
Nilgiri pipit, Malabar lark, and other endemic bird species that rely solely on grasslands have been the most affected.
The widespread destruction of grasslands is the main reason for this decline. From 1848 to 2018, the area of grasslands in the Nilgiris decreased by 80%.
However, there hasn't been a significant decline in the population of forest birds. This is because the trees that replaced the grasslands (foreign plantations, invasive plants) provided them with a new habitat.
Researchers say that the lack of recognition of grasslands as an important ecosystem is a major reason for their destruction. Forest conservation and tree planting usually receive more attention.
A key feature of this study is its research methodology. These crucial conclusions were reached by comparing centuries-old specimens from Natural history museums, historical maps from the British era, and modern field surveys.
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