New Delhi (NVI): Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said that the government is working towards the plan to improve the quality of 160 zoos through Public Private Partnership (PPP) across the country.
Speaking at the celebration of “Wildlife Week 2020”, Javadekar said that plan for upgradation and development of all the zoos in the country is underway and will be taken up during the upcoming budget session.
He further said that state governments, corporations, businesses and people will all be key elements of the plan. It will help give enhanced experience to the visitors especially the students and children and the future generation in order to nurture the connect between wildlife, nature and humans.
हम अपने चिड़ियाघरों को और बेहतर ढंग से विकसित करने एवं वन्यजीवो के संरक्षण में जनता की भागीदारी को बढ़ावा देने की दिशा में प्रयास करेंगे। चिड़ियाघरों के विकास से ही वन्यजीवों एवं मनुष्य में तालमेल सुनिश्चित किया जा सकता है।@moefcc @CZA_Delhi @DDNewslive @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/HKuXdmFoeK
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) October 5, 2020
On the occasion, Javadekar also launched a report of the CZA-TERI titled “economic valuation of ecosystem services”, National Zoological Park, New Delhi. The report highlights the importance of habitats such as zoos to human wellbeing and the need of replication across India.
“The study first of its kind in India and perhaps the entire World, pegs the total annual economic value of the ecosystem services (biodiversity conservation, employment generation, carbon sequestration, education and research, recreational and cultural) at around 423 crore (2019-20),” the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) said in a statement.
Whereas, the total value of the one-time cost of services such as carbon storage and land value provided by the zoo is estimated to be around 55,000 crore, it added.
During the virtual interaction, Javadekar also addressed questions of school children from across the country, concerning wildlife protection and human-wildlife interaction. He stated that we must all work together to protect the valuable wildlife of the country.
Moreover, the Union Minister also gave away the CZA-Prani Mitra awards to encourage the zoo officers and staff towards working for captive animal management and welfare, the ministry said.
The awards were given in four categories viz. the Outstanding Director or Curator, Outstanding Veterinarian, Outstanding Biologist or Educationist, Outstanding Biologist or Educationist and Outstanding Animal keeper.
CZA which was established to oversee the functioning of Indian zoos and complement the wildlife conservation strategies through ex-situ measures.
As of today around 160 zoo and rescue centers that enforce global standards in animal housing and welfare are present in the country. Over 567 captive animal species (with 114 species under endangered category) with overall 56,481 individual animals are currently housed in Indian zoos, the ministry noted.
Sanjay Kumar, DG(Forest) &Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment Forest &Climate Change; Soumitra Dasgupta, ADG (Wildlife), SP Yadav, ADG (Project Tiger) and Member Secretary CZA and other senior officers of the Ministry also participated in the event.
-RJV
