New Delhi: Zoological parks are unique ecosystems that provide numerous services of local and national significance. Apart from their primary function in education and research, many zoos, serve as natural habitats for free-ranging animals. These parks are also sources of carbon sequestration, air purification, water purification, and noise attenuation.
Marking the celebration of Wildlife Week 2020 today, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar informed that policy for up gradation and development of all the zoos in the country was underway and would be taken up during the upcoming budget.
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“The government is working towards the upgradation and development of 160 Zoos in Public Private Partnership (PPP) across the country to encourage interaction between wildlife and humans, and help people observe and understand wildlife behaviour more closely, he said.
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 Rs. 423 crore (2019-20) 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 Rs. 55,000 crore.
CZA which was established to oversee the functioning of Indian zoos and complement the wildlife conservation strategies through ex-situ measures, as on today recognizes around 160 zoo and rescue centers that enforce global standards in animal housing and welfare. Over 567 captive animal species (with 114 species under endangered category) with overall 56481 individual animals are currently housed in Indian zoos.
– globalbihari bureau
