Title: Retaining natural habitat fragments in the urban areas: A step towards proactive ecological restoration

Biography:

Minal Desai Shirodkar is MSc., PhD in zoology. She is working as assistant professor in zoology at Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Panaji, Goa, India. She is working in the field of avian ecology for last two decades.

Abstract

Ecological restoration is the recovery of degraded ecosystem. The hypothesis of the present research was, ‘retaining the natural habitat fragments in the urban areas can be proactive step to ecological restoration’. The study was taken up in Panaji, the capital city of Goa (India), an important tourist destination on the world map. Panaji is studded with all kinds of modern amenities and simultaneously the city has several diverse natural habitat fragments such as forest, grassland, wetland, mangrove, paddy field, beach; and man-made habitats like monoculture plantation and parks. The diversity of birds was studied and the results revealed more than100 bird species in Panaji. Grassland supported the highest bird diversity including the migrants such as Glossy Ibis, Painted Stork, Adjutant stork and Woolly necked Stork. Generalist birds, commonly seen in urban areas were sighted breeding in the city. In the present study it was observed that the city with natural habitat fragments supported rich bird diversity, thus indicating healthy environment. Hence retaining natural habitat fragments in the urban areas can be a proactive step to ecological restoration. Sustainable development and prevention of ecological degradation can be done by retaining natural habitat fragments in the urban areas.