The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC)'s Wildlife Development Department marked various achievements throughout the first quarter of the current year, ensuring its commitment to maintain biodiversity and enhance environmental sustainability across the country.
During the first quarter of 2025, 1,642 new wild trees were planted, 40 mesquite (prosopis juliflora) trees were removed for their potential harmful effects on the local environment, 153 assessment studies conducted on the development projects and their impacts on local wildlife, 70 wild trees transplanted into wild meadows, 670 seedlings of wild trees and plants produced, 117 field inspection visits to the replanted fenced meadows and wild areas, and 43 permits issued to start work at areas of wild plants.
Further, the department issued 2,240 falcon passports, 680 CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) certificates for importing different wild birds, and animals, 185 CITES certificates for re-export, and received 71 applications for registering dangerous animals.
The department also received four applications for new quarries, issued 39 permit renewals for sifting landfill rubble, 23 permit renewals for transporting landfill materials, 57 permit renewals for mobile crushers, 149 field inspection visits conducted to various related sites, and issued six violations for crushers, quarries and others, among various related activities.
Further, the department succeeded in capturing 4,323 invasive myna birds as part of a programme to combat the harmful effects it causes on the local environment.
The department carried out several activities to enhance public awareness on the importance of maintaining biodiversity and enhance sustainability practices, which included workshops, distribution of awareness and information brochures and several other public participation and media activities.
