Wildlife Corridors in India – Purpose
Habitat corridors are an important tool in managing areas where natural habitats have been disrupted due to human development or natural disasters. When land is fragmented, animal populations can become unstable. Corridors help reconnect these fragmented areas and stabilize populations by aiding in three key factors:
- Colonization: Animals can move to new areas to find resources like food or shelter when their core habitat is lacking.
- Migration: Species that move seasonally can do so more easily when they can navigate around human-made barriers.
- Interbreeding: Animals can find mates in nearby regions, increasing genetic diversity.
Early researchers like Daniel Rosenberg et al. defined wildlife corridors as pathways that facilitate movement without being limited by specific vegetation or habitat types.
Corridors not only benefit animal populations but also indirectly affect plant populations by helping spread pollen and seeds. They need to be large enough to support viable populations, minimize migration barriers, and maximize connections between populations.
These corridors can include aquatic habitats like rivers and streams, often referred to as riparian ribbons. On land, they can be wooded strips or urban hedges that connect different habitat areas.
Also Read: Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India
Wildlife Corridors in India: Latest List 2024
A wildlife corridor, also known as a habitat corridor or green corridor, is a stretch of natural habitat that connects different populations of wildlife that have been separated by human activities like roads, buildings, or logging. These corridors allow animals to move between populations, which helps prevent problems like inbreeding and low genetic diversity, which can happen when animal groups are isolated.
Corridors also make it easier for populations to recover after events like fires or disease outbreaks by allowing individuals to migrate and establish new groups. Let us learn more!
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