The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), has launched a new conservation initiative in Dehradun aimed at protecting the endangered Indian Skimmer in the Ganga Basin. The project was recently inaugurated by Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C R Patil, marking an important step toward safeguarding river biodiversity in the region.
Titled Safeguarding breeding habitats of Indian Skimmer and sympatric birds through monitoring and community participation in the Ganga Basin, the project focuses on protecting river sandbars that serve as critical nesting sites for the Indian Skimmer and several other river-dependent bird species. According to BNHS, these fragile habitats are increasingly threatened by sand mining, altered river flows and growing human disturbance.
The initiative seeks to address these challenges through regular scientific monitoring, habitat protection measures and strong involvement of local communities. BNHS noted that the project builds on successful conservation efforts in the National Chambal Sanctuary, where community participation significantly improved bird nesting success.
This conservation model will now be expanded to key river stretches, including the Chambal River, the Upper Ganga near Bijnor and Narora, the Ganga–Yamuna confluence at Prayagraj, and the Lower Ganga near the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar. These areas are known to be important breeding and foraging grounds for river birds.
A key component of the project is community engagement. Local residents will be trained as ‘Nest Guardians’ and ‘River Guardians’ to help protect nesting sites, monitor bird populations, reduce threats and support data collection. BNHS said this approach will not only strengthen conservation outcomes but also create livelihood opportunities for local communities, encouraging long-term stewardship of river ecosystems.
While the Indian Skimmer remains the primary focus, the project will also support the conservation of other declining river bird species such as the Black-bellied Tern, River Tern, River Lapwing, Great Thick-knee, Little Tern and Little Pratincole. These species are considered important indicators of healthy river systems.
India is home to nearly 90 per cent of the global population of the Indian Skimmer, making the country central to the survival of this endangered bird. BNHS highlighted that the species has suffered a sharp decline over the years due to habitat loss, unregulated sand mining, unplanned water releases from dams, predation and disturbance caused by humans and livestock.
By combining scientific research, community participation and strategic planning, the BNHS–NMCG project aims to protect critical river habitats and develop a conservation model that can be replicated across the Ganga Basin to support long-term river biodiversity conservation.
