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Research and Environment Protection

Today, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has acquired an unique national role and international prestige. During the past few decades the BNHS has shifted its emphasis from the documentation of India’s natural resources to providing the scientific basis for sound conservation programmes. Much of the credit also goes to the collaborators, both national and international, who have shown confidence in the BNHS to fund its endeavours.

The Society’s guiding principle has always been that conservation must be based on scientific research - a tradition exemplified by its late President, Dr. Sálim Ali. The research programmes over the past decades have helped Indian wildlife biology make the transition from exploration, big game and natural history to rigorous field biology to conservation and restoration ecology studies using modern methods of data collection and analysis.

BNHS’s scientists have been working in the protected and other sensitive natural areas with biodiversity and conservation potential of national and international significance. The main focus of the environmental research activities is to try to find out the solution by which man can share natural resources sustainably. These studies have provided crucial data for management and conservation of India’s rich biodiversity.

The research contributes mainly to identify, monitor and mitigate the adverse impact of unplanned nonsustainable developmental processes on our natural environment. This is being achieved by conducting research on indicator species of plants and mammals in sensitive natural habitats the country over. The studies on carrying capacity of the protected and non-protected areas have indicated crucial changes due to localised nonsustainable exploitation of the natural resources. It has been realised that healthy environment can play a crucial role in the long term sustainable development of the region resulting in the upliftment of the local populations. The present and future BNHS research projects are designed to mitigate the adverse impact of developmental projects on the ecosensitive areas as well as restoration of degraded environment.

Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has recognised BNHS as the Regional Nodal agency to co-ordinate the network of wildlife research in the Western Region of India, comprising the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

BNHS strongly believes in the sustainable development in harmony with nature for the better living conditions of the masses. We feel this could only be achieved through unwasteful utilization of the natural resources, ecofriendly industries, long-term planned development and coexistence in nature which needs to be ensured for better future of the coming generations.

We, at the BNHS, are of the opinion that every person and institution should take up the cause of nature conservation in their own capacity. Every such action will have short term and long term positive effect resulting in conserving natural resources for sustainable use.

Scientific Collaboration

The scientific research of the BNHS has been conducted in many cases in collaboration with international institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, the Edward Grey Institute for Ornithology at Oxford, the Chicago Zoological Society, the Harrison Zoological Museum (UK), the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Zoological Society of London and the British Museum (Natural History). With regard to collaboration with national institutions, collaborative projects have been undertaken with the Wildlife Institute of India, Aligarh Muslim University and the University of Pune. Scientists from such prestigious institutions such as Tata Institute of Fundamental Science, Wildlife Institute of India, Madurai Kamraj University, Institute of Science at Bangalore and the Zoological Survey of India are on the BNHS Advisory Panel. Many eminent scientists from throughout India are members of the BNHS.

BNHS has signed MOUs with the following Institutions:

1. Harrisons Zoological Museum, U.K. for status survey of bats.

2. Hawk and Owl Trust, U K for study of Birds of Prey roosts.

3. Wetlands International, Malaysia for Wetlands research in India.

4. BirdLife International

Partner and Member of Scientific Societies with international repute:

The BNHS is a member of several international organisations and societies of high repute such as IUCN, and is a partner designate of BirdLife International. Present and past staff members of the BNHS are members of Specialist Groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission such as the Elephant, Amphibian and Rodent Specialist Groups.

PAST AND PRESENT ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE BNHS

Some of the major achievements of the BNHS are outlined below :

Scientific Research

Mammal Survey of India (1911-1914) during which more than 50,000 mammal specimens were collected from throughout the Indian subcontinent. This contributed greatly to the progress of Indian systematic mammalogy.
Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats (1929-30) during which invaluable bird specimens from this region were collected.
As early as 1933, presentation of a paper by S H Prater (Society’s Curator) on the “Problem of Wildlife Protection in India” during the Society’s Golden Jubilee meeting.
Ornithological Surveys which formed the basis of standard treatises on Indian ornithology by Sálim Ali and Dillon Ripley : Hyderabad (1931-1932), Travancore and Cochin (1933), Mysore (1939-1940), Central India (1938), Gujarat (1944-1948), Orissa (1948-1949), Berar (1951), Sikkim (1952-1953), Bhutan (1966-1968), Goa (1972), Arunachal Pradesh (1979-1982), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1964, 1966).
Studies of Bird Migration (1959-1972) in collaboration with WHO, Virus Research Centre at Pune, Smithsonian Institution and USFWS.
Gir Project : A multidisciplinary study (1970-72), in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution and Yale University, Forest Department and Government of Gujarat.
Ecological Studies at Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur (1980-91), the first major multidisciplinary study of a wetland ecosystem in India in collaboration with the USFWS.
Ecological Studies at Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu (1987-1990) - the first major multidisciplinary study of a coastline ecosystem in India in collaboration with the USFWS.
Ecology of the Indian Elephant (1987-1994) in collaboration with the USFWS. The BNHS has pioneered long term studies of the Indian Elephant in South and Central India.
Ecology of Endangered Bird Species (1981-1989) such as the Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican and Bengal Florican in collaboration with the USFWS.
Rediscovery of Endangered Species such as the Jerdon’s Courser in Sri Lankamalleshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh in 1986, and Sálim Ali’s fruit bat Latidens sálimalii in the High Wavy Mountains of Tamil Nadu in 1993 in collaboration with the USFWS and Harrison Zoological Museum respectively.
Ecology of Indian Grasslands (1990-1997) a major multi-disciplinary project on desert, terai and Deccan grasslands in collaboration with USFWS and Aligarh Muslim University.
Ecology of Raptors with special emphasis on endangered species (1990-93) in collaboration with the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Ecology of the Indian Giant Squirrel (1992-1997) in collaboration with the U S Fish & Wildlife Service, Wildlife Institute of India and the University of Miami, Florida.
Ecology and Ontogeny of the Amphibians of Western India (1963-1965).
Ecology and Systematics of the Bats of India (1991-1994)
Ecology of the Butterfly species of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (1990-93).
Development of Practical Methodologies to reduce Bird Hazards to Aircraft in collaboration with Aeronautics Research and Development Board (ARDB), Govt. of India. Thirty civil/defence airports were monitored throughout India. (1980 - on-going)
Birds of Sriharikota Island, sponsored by Indian Space Research Organization, Bangalore (1993-94)
Study of Endangered Turtles of Pondicherry, sponsored by Pondicherry Government (1992).
Status of Wetlands in India, sponsored by UNDP (1992).
Status survey of Jerdon’s Courser, sponsored by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India (1994-95).
Study of Roosting Harriers in Gujarat, sponsored by the Hawk & Owl Trust, UK. (1992).
Establishment of an EIA Cell in 1993 to coordinate applied research studies in ecologically sensitive areas. (Ongoing).
Conservation Education Project, funded by ODA to study socio-ecological problems in and around National Parks and to sensitize and educate local populations to ecological problems and sustainable development. Establishment of the Conservation Education Centre at Goregaon, Mumbai.
Capacity - 21 Project funded by Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research, Government of India.
Hill Stream Fishes of the Western Ghats Project funded by USFWS
Bird Hazard Research Cell funded by Ministry of Defence, ARDB, Government of India.
Development of Electrophoretic Technique funded by Ministry of Defence, ARDB, Government of India.
Chilka Lake Project funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
Survey of Coastal Areas of Mumbai funded by Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
Ecology and Behaviour of the Forest Owlet funded by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington.
Siberian Crane Project funded by Forest Department, Rajasthan and Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
Studies on carnivores of Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
Birds of Prey Project: Winter Ecology of Raptors funded by USFWS.
Birds of Prey Project: Effect of Environmental Contamination Project funded by USFWS.
Birds of Prey Project: Ecology of some rare raptors funded by USFWS.
Bird Banders Training Programme funded by USFWS.
Status and Ecology of endangered Hispid Hare in Jaldapara Sanctuary, West Bengal, funded by Wildlife Consevation Society, USA.
Survey of Marine Turtles in Maharashtra and Goa in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
Education and awareness programme for conservation of the Great Indian Bustard. funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Sl.No	Project title	Duration	Scientist In-char
1.	ENVIS Centre ENVIS – EMCB Node	September 2004-August 2005 April 2004-March 2005
2.	Important Bird Areas Indian Bird Conservation Network	April 2004 – March 2005	Dr A R Rahmani
3.	Ecological Studies on ForestSpotted Owlet	October 2001 – October 2004	Dr A R Rahmani
4.	Ecology of Shola & Alpine Grasslands	February 2000 – October 2003	Dr A R Rahmani
5.	The Status and Distribution of Vultures in India	April 2000-March 2001	Dr Vibhu Prakash
6.	A study of Spotbilled Pelican in Southern India with special reference to its conservation.	June 2000 - May 2003	Dr Ranjit Manakadan
7.	Bird Community studies in various habitats of the Western Ghats.	April 2000 – March 2002	Dr A R Rahmani
8.	Population status and ecology of the globally threatened Jerdon’s Courser in India.	November 2000 – December 2003	Dr A R Rahmani
9.	Building capacity for the recovery of critically endangered Gyps sp. of vultures in India.	July 2004 – June 2004	Dr Vibhu Prakash
10.	Vulture Mortality Study in India	1 Year	Dr Vibhu Prakash
11.	All India coordianted project on Taxonomy – Mollusca	April 2001 – March 2003	Mr Deepak Apte
12.	An ecological account of the faunal diversity of Sriharikota Island and its environs.	December 2001 – November 2004	Dr Ranjit Manakadan
13.	Habitat Evaluation of Chilika Lake with special reference to Birds as bio-indicators	December 2001 – November 2004	Dr S Balachandran
14.	Revaluation of bird communities structure in the Palni Hills with special reference to the threatened and endemic species.	April 2002 – March 2005	Dr S Balachandran
15.	Distribution, Status and Ecology of Four-horned Antelope in India.	July 2002 – June 2005	Dr A R Rahmani
16.	Conservation Education and Population Assessment of the Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.	October 2003 – September 2004	Dr Asad R Rahmani
17.	Tracing the migration of Indian Marine Turtles: towards an integrated and collaborative conservation progarmme.	December 2003 – December 2004	Mr Varad Giri
18.	Vulture Captive Breeding Centre	March 2004-February 2005	Dr A R Rahmani/Dr Vibhu Prakash
19.	Diclofenac Research (Vultures in India)	March 2004 –February 2005	Dr A R Rahmani/Dr Vibhu Prakash
20.	Prediction and Management of Decline in Gyps. Species Vulture	February 2004 – January 2005	Dr A R Rahmani/Dr Vibhu Prakash
21.	Ecology of Owls in Rajasthan		Dr Vibhu Prakash
22.	Tiger Habitat Continuity Study II Project	February 2004 – January 2005	Mr Kishor Rithe
23.	Development of Desert National and Biosphere Reserve	February 2004 – January 2005	Dr A R Rahmani
24.	Economic valuation of Pong Wetland	August 2004 – January 2005	Dr Balachandran