Syllabus:
GS3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Context:
A recent survey by the Annual Waterbird Census (AWC) revealed a steep decline in bird populations, from 8,776 individual waterbirds in 2020 to 3,380 in 2024 in Okhla Bird Sanctuary.
More on the News
- The drop in bird populations at Okhla Bird Sanctuary has disrupted key ecological processes, threatening biodiversity.
- This sharp decline in bird species and ecological highlights the growing threat to urban wetlands across India.
- It reflects the broader issue of humanity’s unsustainable interaction with nature amid rapid urbanisation.
Okhla Bird Sanctuary (OBS)
- In 1990, the OBS was declared a protected area under the Wildlife Protection Act, spans 3.5 square km and is one of India’s Important Bird Areas (IBAs).
- It is situated on the Yamuna River, and it played a critical role as a breeding ground, foraging site, and stopover point for migratory birds.
Causes of the Degradation of Okhla Bird Sanctuary (OBS)
- Encroachment around OBS: Encroachments around Okhla Bird Sanctuary, both illegal by nearby settlements and legal by the Forest Department, are harming its ecosystem.
- Structures like kiosks, roads, and large buildings on the eastern side have disturbed the sanctuary.
- In 2015, the Ministry of Environment declared an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the sanctuary to limit construction.
- But instead of the standard 1-kilometer buffer, the boundary here was reduced to just a few meters, paving the way for urban sprawl.
- Pollution: Untreated sewage and industrial waste have made the river at Okhla Barrage highly toxic, with BOD levels hitting 58 mg/l in 2020—almost 20 times the safe limit of 3 mg/l.
- The sanctuary is surrounded by highways and bridges, contributing to incessant noise pollution.
- Mismanagement: Mismanagement by authorities, leading to neglect of the sanctuary’s ecological needs.
- Climate Change Impact: Broader climate change impacts, such as altered precipitation patterns and increased drought frequency, can also affect water levels in the wetland.
- Species Unrest: Birds, especially frugivores, are vital for seed dispersal and regenerating native vegetation.
- Their absence severely reduces native plant regeneration, weakening the overall ecosystem with invasive species such as Typha and water hyacinth putting the sanctuary’s future in crisis.
Way Forward
- Successful river restoration efforts worldwide offer key lessons for reviving the Yamuna. Models like the Thames and Rhine highlight the need for stricter pollution control.
- Implement comprehensive strategies for treating urban sewage and industrial effluents before discharge into water bodies.
- Restore wetland health by ensuring consistent water flow from the Okhla Barrage, removing the invasive species, and planting native fruit-bearing trees to support bird populations.
- Create and apply science-based wetland management plans that include regular monitoring, invasive species control, habitat restoration, and water management.