Study maps Galliformes in Himachal Pradesh, finding most hotspots outside protected areas
A study led by the Nature Conservation Foundation and partner institutions mapped the distribution of Galliformes (ground-dwelling birds such as pheasants and partridges) across about 26,000 sq km in Himachal Pradesh using camera-trap data. It reported that only 12.5% of areas with high Galliformes species richness and 8.8% of areas with high concentrations of endemic species fall within existing protected areas, and identified the Greater Himalaya–Trans-Himalaya transition zone as a key landscape for Galliformes conservation.
The results identify specific high-altitude bird conservation priority areas that are largely outside current protected-area boundaries, informing where community-led or multi-species conservation planning may be needed.