Hesaraghatta grassland now declared a reserve

THE GRASSLANDS ARE GROUNDS FOR MIGRANT BIRD SPECIES FROM EUROPE, CENTRAL ASIA AND HIMALAYAS INCLUDING SEVERAL SPECIES OF RAPTOR

- Jayashree Nandi

NEW DELHI: The Karnataka government has issued a notification to declare Hesaraghatta grasslands in the outskirts of Bengaluru as "Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve" protecting a unique grassland landscape with rich biodiversity that serves as an important water catchment area for Bengaluru, frequently impacted by severe water shortages.

The grasslands are also wintering grounds for migrant bird species from Europe, Central Asia and Himalayas including several species of raptors. The Lesser Florican, a critically endangered endemic bustard was sighted in Hesaraghatta after 100 years in 2011, according to birders. The notification brings cheer to environmentalists and bird watchers who frequent the grasslands and have been campaigning to save it from mindless tree planting and change of land use. Conservation India, a Bengaluru-based initiative ran a campaign to save the grasslands from tree planting in 2013.

"Whereas the Government of Karnataka considers that it is desirable to declare the area, situation, limits and extent of which are specified in the schedule below, to be a "Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve" for its ecological, faunal, floral and geomorphological importance, and for the purpose of protecting, propagating and developing grassland and wildlife therein or its environment and to protect the important catchment area around Hesaraghatta, which is one of the sources of water for Bengaluru city," the notification dated February 25 states.