To raise awareness on the importance of birds in the ecosystem and the declining of bird species at an alarming rate, the Central Forest Division, Forest Department of Manipur on Thursday launched a three-day Bird Identification Workshop at the Central Forest Division office, Mantripukhri in Imphal East.
Wildlife Explorers Manipur and Bird Count of India with the Forest Department, government of Manipur is organising the Bird Identification Workshop of three days till December 24 at different areas of Manipur to generate awareness of the importance of birds, to support bird monitoring with the involvement of local communities, to promote conservation, develop the habit of birdwatching, documentation, etc. in the state.
During the launching programme, principal chief conservator of forest, AK Joshi stressed the importance of local people or community’s cooperation and participation while conserving and protecting birds in Manipur which only the government and government department cannot do alone. It becomes very difficult for the department to initiate the work of conservation due to certain limits. So, in the initial stage, awareness of people is very important for protection and conservation of the birds, he added.
Various species of birds including endangered and vulnerable birds migrated to Manipur due to the potential of birding and biodiversity of the state. Moreover, the wetlands in the state gives reason to the birds to migrate, Joshi said.
Manipur has a great potential for birding and tourism, so the state can be a great destination for birds across the world, Joshi said and added that for that lots of work has to be done. Identifying, studying birds should be initiated with documentation, further training and capacity building required for gaining cooperation, Joshi added.
Wildlife Explorers Manipur president, Khoyumthem Brajeshkumar said that birds play a role in an ecosystem like birds eat insects and pests that would otherwise decimate agricultural crops, gardens, and other vegetation. Moreover, birds disperse seeds, spreading plants into new areas while Hummingbirds help pollinate plants. Unfortunately, many bird species are declining at alarming rates due to several reasons, he said.
According to Birdlife International Red Data Book 2019, 55 bird species out of 666 identified species have been recorded in Manipur.
Bird identification workshops will reach different nine districts of Manipur at different locations under the respective district.
The launching programme was attended by forest department, government of Manipur, CCF Longjam Joykumar; Bird Count India, Tomal Gogoi; assistant conservator of forest central division, Sivaveimy.
