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The Union Environment Minister rolled out the ‘Fauna of India Checklist Portal’, claimed to be the first of its kind globally.
About Fauna of India Checklist Portal
- It comprises 121 checklists of all known taxa, covering 36 phyla, and providing information on all the 1,04,561 animal species distributed across India.
- Endemic, threatened, and scheduled species have also been included in the list.
- The portal has been prepared by more than 150 scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) working at a stretch for two years.
The comprehensive fauna checklist is important for several reasons:
- Conservation and protection: By documenting all known animal species in India, this list provides a baseline to track changes in biodiversity and identify threatened /or endangered species that require targeted conservation efforts.
- Scientific research: The detailed inventory of India’s fauna will serve as an invaluable resource for scientists, researchers, and policymakers to better understand the country’s rich ecological diversity and make informed decisions about sustainable management of natural resources.
- International leadership: India is the first country in the world to prepare such a comprehensive national-level checklist of its entire fauna. This positions India as a global leader in biodiversity documentation and conservation, setting an example for other countries to follow.
- Informing policy and planning: The fauna checklist will help the government develop more effective policies and programs for wildlife protection, habitat preservation, and environmental management across India.
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