The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change visited the Great Indian Bustard habitat in Kachchh district, Gujarat on 14 September 2026 to review conservation efforts for this endangered bird species. During the visit, the minister inaugurated a new facility for breeding and releasing bustards back into the wild, launched a green belt project, and inspected mangrove restoration work across the region.
What was launched and reviewed
The minister inaugurated the Soft Release Centre for the Great Indian Bustard, a facility equipped to help captive-bred birds gradually adapt to natural conditions before release into the habitat. The centre supports monitoring and conservation work for the species.
A second major initiative unveiled was the Sayara Van Kavach, a dense forest developed across 9.46 square kilometres using the Miyawaki method of afforestation. This plantation includes over 10,000 saplings from 47 native plant species suited to Kachchh’s saline and water-scarce conditions. The Van Kavach is expected to lower local temperatures by 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, improve groundwater, prevent soil erosion, and create habitat for birds and wildlife.
On the mangrove front, the minister reviewed work under the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) programme. Against a target of 29,250 hectares for the period 2023-24 to 2026-27, mangrove plantation has been completed over 27,652 hectares, including 12,450 hectares in the Kori Creek area. The Jakhau Mangrove Nursery has raised approximately 3.49 lakh seedlings.
Conservation progress on the Great Indian Bustard included restoration of around 11 square kilometres of grassland previously infested with invasive Prosopis juliflora, and installation of 30 kilometres of predator-proof fencing covering 15 square kilometres. A chick produced through egg replacement from the conservation breeding programme survived beyond three months in the wild, marking progress in species recovery efforts in Gujarat.
The minister also flagged off 33 new patrolling and rescue vehicles for use across Kachchh Forest Circle divisions in protection, development, monitoring and emergency response activities.
What this means for you
Local residents in Kachchh will benefit from employment opportunities created by these conservation projects, including mangrove plantation work and eco-tourism at the Van Kavach site. The dense forest plantations will make the region cooler and improve water availability for communities. If you are engaged in agriculture or pastoralism in the area, your participation in protecting the Great Indian Bustard habitat through grazing management and land use practices remains important to the success of these initiatives.