New Delhi, Aug 27 (PTI) Former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said the recent 'State of India's Birds' report points to worrying trends and asserted that the protection of birds and many other species requires an approach incorporating entire landscapes.

According to the report based on data from about 30,000 birdwatchers across the country, of the 338 bird species studied in India for changes in numbers over the last 30 years, 60 per cent have experienced a decline. Also, 40 per cent (142) of the 359 species evaluated for change over the last seven years have declined, it said.

Also Read | Loan App Fraud in Ahmedabad: Failed To Pay Borrowed Money Back, Scammers Video Call Borrower, Make Morphed Nude Photos oh Him; Two Arrested.

The Congress general secretary said that another key takeaway from the report is that the Schedules listed in the recently amended Wildlife Protection Act, which the Parliamentary Standing Committee studied in detail, need to be periodically reviewed and updated based on the latest scientific evidence and consultation with experts.

In a post on 'X', Ramesh said, "The second iteration of the diligently curated State of India's Birds, released couple of days ago, points us to some worrying trends: Out of the 942 bird species assessed, 204 species, i.e. almost one-fourth, have declined in the last 30 years."

Also Read | India's Real Estate Sector to Grow Multifold to About USD 6 Trillion by 2047: Report.

"That many species that are rapidly declining are those with a large range in habitats outside the Protected Areas, especially habitats like grasslands, rivers and coasts," he said.

Birds face three major common threats across India — forest degradation, urbanisation and energy infrastructure, Ramesh said, citing the report.

Climate change and illegal hunting and trade continue to be significant threats, he added.

"Protection of birds and many other species requires an approach beyond Protected Areas incorporating entire landscapes," Ramesh said.

"Incidentally, Satish Dhawan, in news due to the brilliant achievements of ISRO, was an avid bird-watcher and wrote a most fascinating book on how birds fly," he said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)