New Delhi, Apr 22 (PTI) The reliance on vague wildlife estimates may soon give way to a more scientific approach to conservation efforts at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, with a 10-year management plan approved by the Delhi Forest Department set to introduce camera trap-based studies and first-ever bird and butterfly surveys.
The national capital’s only wildlife sanctuary is located along the southern Ridge in a 32.71 sq km area and is home to a wide variety of birds, animals and plants.
“The 10-year management plan for 2024-25 to 2034-35 has been prepared with the help of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and was approved in December last year,” an official told PTI, adding that the earlier plan was prepared with the Forest Research Institute.
The plan will have detailed scientific assessments of mammals, birds, butterflies, land, soil and water to guide future conservation measures, the official said, citing the document.
A first-ever systematic bird survey carried out in 2024 across major habitats of ABWS has recorded 121 species from 46 families using line transects and point counts, the source told PTI.
A butterfly survey conducted between September and November 2024 across rocky areas, mixed plantations, Prosopis juliflora-dominated areas and open areas has documented 53 species belonging to 39 genera and five families using line-transect and opportunistic methods, with identification done through field guides and photographic records, the source said.
The official further said that a mammal survey was conducted between April and June 2024 using systematic camera trapping and field observations recorded around 23 species, including 18 wild and five stray or domestic animals. More than 20 camera traps were deployed across habitats such as dense scrub, open woodland, rocky terrain, plantation areas and grasslands to assess diversity, abundance and habitat use.
“Mammal counting earlier relied on literature and direct or indirect sightings. This time, for the first time, it has been carried out using camera traps in a systematic manner,” the source said.
Another assessment based on supervised classification of 2024 Landsat-8 imagery has shown that ABWS is overwhelmingly dominated by Prosopis juliflora (vilayati kikar), covering 63.48 per cent of the area, followed by built-up zones at 14.07 per cent and forest plantations at 5.46 per cent.
Native species such as Anogeissus pendula (dhok tree) account for just 0.26 per cent, while other land-use classes include rock outcrops (1.55 per cent), waterbodies (0.76 per cent), bare ground (0.28 per cent) and scrub (0.17 per cent).
The plan will have measures such as phased control of the invasive vilayati kikar, assisted regeneration of native flora in mined and rocky patches, expansion of drought-tolerant plantations, periodic monitoring of land-use and vegetation changes, and protection of ridge slopes along with soil moisture retention structures to sustain native flora, officials said.
A comprehensive soil survey carried out across different habitat types of ABWS has assessed physico-chemical properties, fertility status and heavy metal content of soils supporting vegetation and ecological functions.
The exercise has examined variations in soil characteristics across vegetation types and disturbance levels, while establishing a scientific baseline for long-term ecosystem management, the official told PTI.
A detailed water-quality survey has assessed surface and subsurface water sources and their ecological role, with samples collected from Neeli Jheel, three ponds and five borewells used for irrigation and wildlife.
The study examined physical, chemical and heavy metal characteristics to identify areas requiring management attention.
“Despite recognising the biological and ecological importance of the area, previous plans did not prioritise species-specific conservation. This time, a more scientific approach is being adopted,” the source said.
The plan also suggested that the long-standing practice of artificial feeding of macaques should also be gradual phased out, noting that it disrupts natural foraging behaviour and creates dependency while also imposing a recurring financial burden, officials said.
“Currently, the forest department is feeding monkeys, which is financially burdensome,” an official said.
The plan will instead focus on habitat enrichment through planting of native fruit-bearing species and progressive reduction of feeding points, along with a humane and scientifically managed sterilisation programme to regulate monkey populations without disturbing ecological balance.
There will also be seven overarching theme plans to guide management across ABWS, including protection, eco-restoration, rescued wildlife management, fire management, wildlife health monitoring, community interface, and research and monitoring, officials said. PTI SGV RT
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