White-Bellied Heron
Context:
ü A controversy has erupted after a Union Environment Ministry expert panel recommended environmental clearance (EC) for the 1,200-MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project on the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh.
ü Environmentalists have flagged glaring omissions in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which reportedly failed to mention the presence of the White-bellied heron, a critically endangered bird found in the project's basin.
About the Species:
ü The scientific name is Ardea insignis.
ü IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The global population is estimated at fewer than 250 mature individuals, possibly less than 60.
ü Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:
Schedule I which is the highest protection.
ü It is restricted to the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
Globally it isfound primarily in Bhutan, Northeast India, and Myanmar.
It is considered extinct in Nepal and Bangladesh.
ü In India it is recorded in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Kamlang Tiger Reserve, and the Lohit River basin.
● Ecological Significance:
ü It is an indicator of high-quality riverine ecosystems.
Its presence signifies clean, undisturbed, and free-flowing waters with abundant fish stocks.
ü Unlike other herons, it requires fast-flowing rivers and streams with sandbanks for foraging and nesting.
It is extremely sensitive to water pollution and flow disruptions.