Mining puts animals at risk

Escalating mining and other deforestation activities in the country are causing the list of endangered species — both plants and animals — to swell, as is evident from the recent figures revealed by the Centre.

As per an assessment by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which has been quoted by the government, there has been an increase in the number of endangered animal species from 648 to 665 during the last two years. As far as plant species are concerned, a Botanical Survey of India (BSI) study has found out that out of a total 19,156 species of vascular plants recorded from the country so far, 1,236 species belong to different threatened categories like critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable. It was approximately a little under 1,200 in 2013.

“Due to mining activities in forests, some impact on the wildlife habitats is imminent,” the government said while replying to a question in Parliament, adding, “The rich biodiversity of India is facing a threat as a result of large-scale man-made landscape modifications and over-exploitation of resources causing loss of degradation of natural ecosystems/habitats.” According to an IUCN assessment, as many as 17 animal species have been added to the endangered list in the past two years (2013-15) out of which 98 are mammals, 88 birds, 53 reptiles, 75 amphibians, 216 fishes, six molluscs and 128 others.

Former member, National Board for Wildlife, Prerna Bindra, said: “A key threat to wildlife is the loss, diversion and fragmentation of wildlife habitats, even protected areas which make up less than five per cent of India’s terrestrial area. The other concern is that we are not realising the gravity of wildlife crime. It’s an organised crime and a lucrative illegal trade on par with arms and narcotics globally. It is not just mega species like tigers, leopards and elephants which are killed for skins, bones and ivory but many others, like pangolins, turtles, lizards and geckos are also highly trafficked. The trade is leading to catastrophic declines and we are not equipped to deal with it, nor are we empowering those on the frontline to tackle it. “Unless we tackle all these issues with serious commitment how will we able to conserve our threatened species ”

On mining as a cause, she said: “I cannot say how much mining is contributing to the issue but again it fragments, destroys vital biodiversity habitats. Some of our best tiger and elephant habitats and biodiversity hotspots (for example Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh Orissa, Jharkhand) are also rich in mineral deposits like coal and iron ore.”