One of the salient features of the BDA with respect to conservation is to notify threatened species and take actions for their rehabilitation & propagation. The Section 38 of BDA grants powers to the Central Government to notify in consultation with State Governments any species which is on the verge of extinction or likely to become extinct in the near future and prohibit or regulate collection of such species for any purpose and take appropriate steps to rehabilitate & preserve notified species.
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India in consultation with Government of Punjab vide Gazette Notification No. S.O 402(E) dated 04.02.2014 u/s 38 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002, had notified 13 species of the flora (8) & fauna (5), which are near to extinction in Punjab. The species were identified by Punjab Biodiversity Board in consultation with Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Department of Forest & Wildlife Preservation, Punjab and subject experts. The natural habitat of 13 notified species ranges from Shivaliks Belt in far north to South- Western Punjab and from agricultural landscapes to major & minor aquatic ecosystems of the State.
The collection of such species of plants and animals shall be prohibited, except with the prior approval of the PBB only for the purposes mentioned below:
- Scientific research;
- herbarium and museum of scientific & academic institutions;
- Propagation; and
- any other scientific investigation
Board has been mandated to undertake studies for holistic understanding of various aspects of the notified species and prepare educational & awareness material to promote their propagation through in-situ and ex-situ conservation with the involvement of Forest Department, BMCs & general public.
List of Notified Threatened Species (floral & fauna) of Punjab
| Threatened Floral Species | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem (Rohida) |
| 2 | Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal (Punir dodi) |
| 3 | Anogeissus sericea Brandis var. nummularia King ex Duthie (Indrokh) |
| 4 | Alysicarpus bupleuurifolius (L.) DC var. hybridus DC (Sweet Alyce Clover, Chauli) |
| 5 | Hibiscus hoshiarpurensis T.K. Paul & M.P. Nayar |
| 6 | Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. Var. lushii (J. Graham) Hook.f [=Ceropegia lushii (J. Graham)] (Hedulo) |
| 7 | Ophioglossum gramineum Willd (Adder’s-tongue) |
| 8 | Ophioglossum polyphyllum A. Braun ex. Seub (Large adders tongue) |
| Threatened Faunal Species | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Platanista gangetica ssp minor (Indus River Dolphin) |
| 2 | Gyps bengalensis Gmelin, 1788 (White-rumped vulture) |
| 3 | Grus antigone Linnaeus, 1758 (Sarus Crane) |
| 4 | Python molurus Linnaeus, 1758 (Indian Rock Python) |
| 5 | Pangshura tecta Gray, 1830 (Indian Roofed Turtle) |
Coffee Table Book on Threatened Flora & Fauna
Punjab Biodiversity Board (PBB) in collaboration with Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST) prepared a book “Threatened Flora & Fauna of Punjab” on the threatened species (8 floral & 5 faunal) of Punjab. This book was released by Sh. Rahul Tewari, IAS, Secretary, Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Govt. of Punjab on the eve of World Environment Day on 5th June 2022.
This Publication is being brought out with primary objective of creating awareness among Policy Planners, District Administrations, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), concerned Departments/ Organizations & general public at large to promote conservation & rehabilitation of 13 notified threatened species of the state.
Besides primary and specific information in the context of local ecological conditions, comprehensive updated scientific & peer reviewed information on each notified species has also been collected by the Board and got vetted from concerned expert Organizations/Authorities to ensure filling of all information gaps. This book is a precious resource for those desirous of knowing about and contributing towards diversity of biological resources.
It is hoped that publication would serve as an effective tool/medium for motivating all the stakeholders to contribute in further scaling up the conservation measures being undertaken in the State to save these species from extinction.