Breeding the Birds, Securing the Grassland? Evaluating India’s Legal Approach to the Preservation of the Great Indian Bustard

What is the point in safeguarding species if the habitats that they rely on are disappearing? Although there are a significant number of laws in place in India, there are still major hurdles to the conservation of wildlife in the country. The Great Indian Bustard offers a useful opportunity to review the interaction between different land uses, the importance of habitat protection and its role in the recovery of species. India has a complex legal framework which is meant to protect wildlife, but the implementation of these laws is a great challenge. The Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972 marked a significant step forward in providing an official framework for wildlife conservation. Using the Great Indian bustard as an example, this article addresses the need to strengthen the legislative framework concerning the habitat needs of endangered species and focuses on the gaps between conservation objectives and the use of land for different purposes. It seeks to evaluate the extent to which the current legal and regulatory framework considers the connection between habitat security and species survival. It also examines potential institutional and legal steps that might contribute to better habitat protection and guarantee that conservation measures are adequate to enable species to persist in their natural environment.