In Search of Safe Havens: Identifying priority conservation areas for a critically endangered bird, the Great Indian Bustard, in the Deccan Landscape of India

The prevention of local extirpation and restoration of populations across their ranges are always considered central conservation goals, especially for species that are tagged as endangered. Many species of different taxa face the risk of extinction due to various threats and require urgent management interventions. Protecting and conserving such species in their native area requires multiple methods and management strategies, such as identifying priority conservation areas. The Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps, a critically endangered species per the IUCN Redlist, was once found throughout India and southern Pakistan. It is now confined to very few patches, with 100-150 individuals left in the wild. Though they are critically endangered, their habitat requirements are poorly understood, hindering their conservation. This paper modelled a probability distribution map and identified priority conservation areas for the GIB in the Deccan landscape. The study found that out of the 7,20,000 km2 Area of the Deccan Landscape, only 48,000 km2 (6.6%) of the area was found suitable for the species using various environmental and climatic variables. We identified 16 critical sites that totalled 18,000 km2, ranging from 144 to 8496 km2, as priority conservation areas by conducting a landscape-level survey and species distribution modelling. The potential conservation areas are a mosaic of grassland and agricultural fields. The future of such areas will depend on the revival of traditional farming systems and on maintaining the ecological integrity of remnant grassland patches. Restoring habitat and traditional farming patterns in these areas is recommended to protect the species from extinction. This study aims to contribute to the management of GIB by identifying the extent of its potential habitat and high-priority conservation areas to ensure the species' survival in the southernmost part of its distribution.