• The project was formally inaugurated by Union Minister C.R. Patil, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) at Dehradun (Uttarakhand)

• What? Launch of conservation project for Indian Skimmer in the Ganga Basin
• Launched by: BNHS under NMCG
• Inaugurated by: Union Minister C.R. Patil, MoJS
• Objective: To protect river sandbars (nesting site for Indian Skimmer)
• Scientific Name: Rynchops albicollis
• IUCN Status : Endangered (EN)

Key Details of Project:
Key Objective: The project will be implemented by BNHS with the main objective of protecting river sandbars which are crucial nesting sites for the Indian Skimmer and many other river birds.
Expansion: The project is built on the success of BNHS’s conservation model in the National Chambal Sanctuary, where local community support helped improve bird nesting success.

• Now, this same approach will be extended to key river stretches of Ganga Basin such as: the Chambal River, the Upper Ganga near Bijnor and Narora, the Ganga-Yamuna confluence at Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh, UP), and the Lower Ganga near the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar.

Support from Local Communities: Under this project, local people will be trained as ‘Nest Guardians’ and ‘River Guardians’ to protect nesting sites of Indian Skimmer, monitor birds and assist in data collection.
Other Species Covered: Apart from Indian Skimmer, the project will conserve the other declining riverine species like: the Black-bellied Tern, River Tern, River Lapwing, Great Thick-knee, Little Tern and Little Pratincole.
About Indian Skimmer :
Overview: The Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) is a distinctive river bird famous for its surface‑skimming feeding style.
IUCN Status: Classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) Red List, it relies on sandbars in large, slow-flowing rivers for nesting and breeding.

• India is home to almost 90% of the world’s population of this species, making its conservation crucial.