Towards an environmentally sound society

Dilip M. Salwi

Dr. Salim Ali Chowk is a location in Mumbai named after that bird-watcher extraordinary. And the reason why the chowk is so named is also obvious. Here stands the Hornbill building of the Bombay Natural History Society with the logo of the hornbill bird, which has today become almost synonymous with that birdwatcher. This large Non-Governmental Organisation is the pioneer of environmental movement in the sub-continent. It aims to identify, monitor and mitigate the adverse impact of unplanned, non-sustainable development processes on our natural environment. Even before the Independence of India, in 1933, the societys Curator S.H. Prater highlighted the problems of protecting wildlife in the country. It has played a key role in not only saving the Silent Valley, banning the export of frogs, preventing the creation of a highway through Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, etc., but it has also been associated with the stipulation of the Wildlife Protection Acts in the country.

The societys mission is actually the late Dr. Salim Alis life-long passion: Conservation of nature, primarily biological diversity, through action based on research, education and public awareness. Today, it spearheads the environmental movement by setting up research stations, conducting research programmes, maintaining collections of flora and fauna, assisting researchers, publishing magazine, journal, monographs and books, organizing environmental education and awareness programmes. It has recently set up the BNHS Conservation Education Centre in Mumbai to popularize environment and its conservation among the people who matter and children.

---

The hornbill building of the Bombay Natural History Society at Dr. Salim Ali Chowk

---

 

Environment conservation became a profession only in the 70s, said Dr. A.R. Rehmani, a leading ornithologist and the present Director of the society, giving its more than a century long history Earlier, conservation was done by the barrel of the gun under the British Raj! The society was set up as early as in 1883 by eight persons who had interest in the natural history of the sub-continent. A wide variety of specimens of birds and animals was collected and preserved in the societys office. Today, the society maintains those specimens, some even of extinct birds and animals, along with others collected over a century. To date, the society houses collections of 26,000 birds, 20,000 mammals, 7,500 reptiles and amphibians, and 50,000 insects, which have today become a part of the National Heritage of India.

Over the years, the society has been conducting research on various aspects of environment, ecology, flora and fauna specific to India. At present, more than 20 projects are in progress in different parts of the country. Our research studies have led to several recommendations, said Issac Kehimkar, the soft spoken Public Relations Officer of the society and an expert on wild flowers For instance, our study traced the bird hazards to aircraft in Mumbai to slaughterhouses in Devnar and made certain recommendations to reduce the bird menace. Our ten year study on elephants in Mudumalai sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, has led to the discovery of their migratory routes. Recommendations to respect those routes have been made to the concerned department. In fact, were building a baseline data for the Project Elephant which is likely to be started in the country soon.

Today, under the sponsorship of several national and international bodies, ministries, forest departments, industries and institutes, about 20 projects on as diverse subjects as ecology of some rare raptors, biological diversity of mangroves, status and distribution of vultures, survey of marine turtles, and ecology and status of hispid hare, etc., are in different stages of progress. The societys research stations at Bharatpur, Rajasthan, and Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu, have also generated multidisciplinary data on wetland and coastline ecosystem respectively for the first time in the country. Besides, the society has an Environmental Impact Assessment Cell meant to conduct studies on certain environmentally and ecologically sensitive areas for guiding policy and development planners in the Government and industry. Since 1993, the society has been organizing the Salim Ali Bird Count programme which intends to create a countrywide network of birdwatchers. During last year, 195 persons participated in the programme and collected information on 331 species of birds from 87 sites in 15 states!

---

Preserved bird specimens in the BNHS collection

Preserved animalspecimens in the BNHS collection

---

The 95-volume-old Journal of Bombay Natural History Society being brought by BNHS, has today become the most prestigious publication on natural history in this part of the world. It publishes research and field studies and surveys conducted by leading names in environment and ecology. Hornbill, the multi-colour quarterly magazine of the society, introduces the flora and fauna in a semi-popular style to its readers. Besides, the society has brought out several authoritative monographs and books on birds, mammals, insects, wild flowers, etc, in collaboration with some leading publishers. The most popular among these books are Salim Alis internationally recognised books on birds, namely; The Book of Indian Birds, Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, and Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (10 volumes). Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History, Edited by R.E. Hawkins, which was brought out on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the society, is also a valuable guide to natural history of the country. To increase its corpus fund, the society also brings out regularly attractive greeting cards, calenders, T-shirts and caps with the message of environment conservation.

Today, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has recognised the society as the Regional Nodal Agency to coordinate the network of wildlife research in the western region of the country. Since 1957, the society has been affiliated to the University of Bombay as a Post Graduate Department in field studies in zoology and botany. It has some seats for M.Sc. in both zoology and botany. Ph.D. studies in these fields are also regularly conducted under the able guidance of the staff. In recent years, the society has also started various courses which are the need of the hour, yet not offered by any university. For instance, the society offers one year leadership course in biodiversity conservation for any person above 18 years of age. It also offers a one year correspondence course in basic entomology. The library of the society containing 20,000 books, 120 theses and 5,000 bound volumes, including century -old books, is also the largest, authentic and uptodate source of information for any student or researcher of natural history.

Environmental education and awareness is the need of the hour. Not only school and college students in cities, towns and villages need to be sensitisized about the importance of environment and its conservation but also villagers, bureaucrats and policy-makers. The society has been imparting environment education and awareness very actively since 1993, said Kehimkar. In fact, Salim Ali Natural Conservation Fund has been set up to spread environmental awareness. In addition to organising nature camps, treks, etc, in wild places, the society has also established the BNHS Conservation Education Centre in 33 acres of land adjacent to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Goregoan, Mumbai. The Centre has an auditorium, five nature trails, display and discovery room which introduce nature to about 10,000 students every year in a wide variety of ways, such as games, puzzles, displays, video and slide shows, and even first hand visits to the neighbouring jungles. It also has a mobile van equipped with audio-visual shows which goes from village to village to spread environmental awareness. Seminars and workshops are also conducted at the Centre to sensitize corporate groups, bureaucrats and army officers to conservation issues, so that they go back to their offices with the commitment for an environmentally sound development in the country.

In its last more than a century of existence, the society and its members have received world wide recognition. The society has received the first Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar in 1987 and the UNEPs Global 500 Award 1990. Its former illustrious President, Dr. Salim Ali, had received several national and international awards and honours. The present Honorary Secretary, Dr. J.C. Daniel, has also received several accolades for his contributions. With more than 5,000 members in 30 countries, one would not come across any environmentalist of repute in India who has not been actively associated with the society one time or the other in his or her life. As Dr. Salim Ali says constant dripping of water wears out even stones, the slow and steady yet concrete work of the society will go a long way in producing an environmentally sound India in the time to come.