Gujarat Ecology Society

Programmes

Biodiversity Conservation

Status survey of threatened Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious) around Ranns of Kachchh. The project sponsored by Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB), UK for the survey of the areas where this critically endangered and migratory species. In 2007 this birds was located by GES at three places in the Gujarat and its habitat, threats and associated floral - faunal species were also studied.

Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan: The World Bank sponsored project aimed to develop strategies and action plan based on the problems related to biodiversity conservation in Gujarat. Biodiversity and the related issues were comprehensively studied for species, ecosystems, protected areas, human-wildlife conflicts, indigenous knowledge and institutional strengths. While analysing each problems on spatial and temporal scale, emphasis was laid on the factual picture of the State. Strategies were developed based on discussion with various stakeholders and included suggestions for policy change, strengthening institutions and effective actions.

Conservation of Rare and Endangered Biodiversity of Gujarat: This four-year project was taken up with the support of Gujarat Ecology Commission for conservation of rare and endangered species to save them from extinction. Assessing the current status, preparation of conservation and management strategies and demonstrative implementation of some of the conservation strategies evolved, are the significant milestones of the project. Information inter aila on distribution, habitat, status and threats were collected and more than 80% of the threatened species were sighted/located. The major findings of the study are presented in the form of a baseline information, a pictorial booklet and a comprehensive report.

Regulating bio-invasion in Banni grasslands in Kachchh: Funded by the Small Grants Programme of Global Environment Facility, this study aimed at quantifying the impact of invasion by Prosopis juliflora (Gando Bawal), a thorny shrub, on the habitat as well as the species and suggested mechanisms to control it. Working with the local people and NGOs, was an integral part of the study.

Society has taken up a project to find out occurrence, distribution and status of certain rare species of small mammals in the central Gujarat region. The main objectives is to find occurrence, distribution and status of certain, rare mammalian species including Flying squirrel, rusty spotted cat, pangolin, Desert fox, Ratel, Civet Cat and Desert Cat. Find habitat preferences and suggest management strategies for them.

Evaluation and Analysis of Experiments taken up on Eucalyptus and Teak in Godhra and Dangs ranges as well as to study gregarious flowering of Bamboo in Dangs: Seed plots in Dangs and Godhra ranges were visited to analyse morphological characters of the plants, seed production and Candidate Plus teak (CPT). Suggestions were given for the better seed production. Vansda National Park, Waghai Botanical Garden and Mahal area of the Dangs were surveyed for best Candidate Plus Clumps (CPC) of Bamboos. 100% bamboo flowering was observed in the Dangs forest range.

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