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22 July 2026

Threat to white-bellied heron habitat

The topic highlights critical flaws in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and the conflict between infrastructure development and biodiversity conservation, which are core themes in GS3.

1 min read 2 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • The white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis) is a critically endangered bird species, listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
  • India's population is estimated at six to nine individuals, primarily located in the Lohit River basin, Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The species inhabits Himalayan river systems up to 1,500m elevation, requiring fast-flowing rivers and mature riparian forests for nesting and foraging.
  • The bird is a specialized predator, feeding exclusively on fish in shallow waters, and is highly sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance.
  • A 1,200-MW hydroelectric project on the Lohit River has received in-principle clearance from the Forest Advisory Committee, involving the felling of 33,000 trees.
  • Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for the project reportedly omitted the white-bellied heron, citing its absence in the immediate diversion area.
  • Ecological concerns include habitat fragmentation, loss of riparian forests, and changes in river turbidity and flow, which threaten the species with local extinction.
  • Experts advocate for a basin-level approach to conservation rather than site-specific assessments, noting that compensatory afforestation cannot replicate complex natural ecosystems.

Questions

  1. Critically examine the limitations of site-specific Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in protecting highly specialized and endangered species in the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The conflict between large-scale infrastructure development and the conservation of critically endangered species highlights the need for a landscape-based approach to ecological governance. Discuss in the context of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the role of the Forest Advisory Committee. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. The white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis) is currently protected under which schedule of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972?

  2. Which of the following best describes the habitat requirements of the white-bellied heron?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-22/threat-to-white-bellied-heron-habitat