Biodiversity

Environment and Ecology

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Forest cover loss threatens hornbills in Arunachal Pradesh

Context: Recently, a study based on satellite data has flagged a high rate of deforestation in a major hornbill habitat in Arunachal Pradesh.

According to the Global Forest Watch 2020 report, Arunachal Pradesh lost 1,110 sq.km. of the primary forest from 2002-2019.

Key highlights of the study
Methodology of the study

Ecologists used fine-scale satellite imagery to assess the changes in forest cover of the 1,064 sq.km. covering the Papum Reserve Forest (RF) adjoining the Pakke Tiger Reserve as well as a part of Assam affected by illegal felling and ethnic conflict.
The ecologists assessed the habitat loss due to illegal logging within a 1 km radius around 29 hornbill nest trees.

Outcomes of the study

The satellite data pointed to alarming deforestation rates in Papum RF with annual loss rates as high as 8.2 sq.km. as per estimates from 2013-2017 where forest cover declined to 76% of the total RF area.
The result shows the loss and degradation of critical hornbill habitat in the biologically rich forests of the Indian Eastern Himalaya, underscoring the need for habitat conservation efforts.
It was found that from 2011 to 2019, the forest cover was found to have declined from 38.55 sq.km. to 21.94 sq.km. around these trees.

About Papum Reserve Forest

Papum Reserve Forest (RF) is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Arunachal Pradesh.
It is located between two IBAs, Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary to the east and Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary to the west.
Papum Reserve Forest forms part of the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area. A large part of the site is covered by Sub-tropical Dry Evergreen and Semi-evergreen Forests, while the higher areas are under Subtropical Broadleaf Hill Forest cover.
Papum RF is a nesting habitat of three species of the large, colourful fruit-eating hornbills: Great, Wreathed and Oriental Pied.

About Hornbills Birds

The hornbills (scientific name Bucerotidae), are a family of birds found in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia.
India is home to nine species of hornbills. The northeastern region of India has the highest diversity of hornbill species.
The Hornbill festival celebrated in Nagaland is named after the bird – Hornbill which is the most revered and admired bird for the Nagas.
One of the kinds of Hornbill found in India is called the Great Indian Hornbill.
Great Indian Hornbill- It is one of the larger members of the hornbill family, distributed along Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
It is an important bird in many tribal cultures and rituals owing to its size and unique colour.
The great hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity.
Though predominantly frugivorous, it also preys on mammals, reptiles and birds.

Conservation Status

At present, 26 out of the 62 species (40%) of hornbills are Globally Threatened or Near Threatened with extinction, with all other species listed as Least Concern, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
It is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
The great hornbill is the state bird of Kerala and Arunachal in India and Chin State in Myanmar.
The Great Hornbill is used as the logo of Kerala Evergreen FC an Indian professional football club based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
A great hornbill called William (pictured) was the model for the logo of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the name of their building.

Threats

Hornbills are hunted for their casques i.e. upper beak and feathers for adorning headgear.
Tribal people hunt them for their parts for rituals and making headgears and other decorations and even as a delicacy.
Habitat loss and hunting are major threats.
Forest clearance for agriculture.

Significance

Hornbills are called ‘forest engineers’ or ‘farmers of forest’ for playing a key role in dispersing seeds of tropical trees, hornbills indicate the prosperity and balance of the forest they build nests in.
Since hornbills consume and spread seeds of fruit species, they are important for the economy and culture of local communities.

Additional Facts
Hornbill Species: The Papum Reserve is a nesting habitat of three species of hornbills:

Pakke reserve houses a fourth species,the Rufous-Necked Hornbill- Vulnerable.