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Indian Bird Conservation Network Program Program
Wild Orissa, an active pro-wildlife organization
and an active organizational partner in the Indian Bird
Conservation Network, organized a function to celebrate the IBA
(important bird areas) day on the 7th
February 2004 at Mangalajodi on the shores of Chilika Lake. This
function was attended by about 300 school children from 5 schools
of the area, namely Mangalajodi ME School, Raula Sahi Prathamika
Vidyalaya, Padma Kumuda Vidyaniketan, Karatia Sahi Prathamika
Vidyalaya and Mangalajodi Girls High School, schoolteachers, apart
from the village headman, village elders, staff of the Tangi
Wildlife Range including the Forester, members of Sri Mahavir
Pakshi Surakshya Samiti of Mangalajodi (bird protection
committee), wildlife lovers of the area and members of Wild
Orissa. Volunteers and members of the Sri Mahavir Pakshi Surakshya
Samiti of Mangalajodi assisted Wild Orissa in conduct of the
event.
School children were welcomed and given talks on
need to conserve and preserve birds and their habitats. Special
emphasis was laid on Chilika Lake, which is a vital IBA site of
Orissa. After that the children were taken around for a
‘bird walk’, which
lasted about 2 hrs. During this walk children were provided with
practical tips on waterfowl/waterbird identification. After the
walk the children were provided with refreshments and stickers on
bird conservation were distributed.
IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS DAY 2005
CELEBRATED
‘Wild
Orissa’, an active pro-wildlife conservation group, celebrated
Important Bird Areas day on the 23rd January 2005. A
worldwide effort was launched by Birdlife International, Royal
Society For Protection of Birds London, etc., for conservation of
birds and their habitats under the aegis of the Important Bird
Areas (IBA) Programme. In India as part of this effort, many
individuals, different agencies (both from government as well as
from outside) have got together to conserve birds and their
habitats, Wild Orissa is a prominent organizational partner
in this effort since 2002. Under this programme certain areas,
which are considered most necessary for conservation for the
future of birds, are shortlisted. In the state of Orissa, Chilika
Lake, Similipal National Park, Bhittarkanika National Park,
Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary & Satkosia-Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary
find mention. As a day to commemorate the efforts for conservation
of birds and their habitats IBA Day is celebrated every year.
Birds are the best indicators of the health of an eco-system and
by conserving them we will be ensuring a purer environment for the
benefit human beings.
Wild Orissa organized IBA Day
2005 on the 23rd of January 2005 at village Gambhari in
Puri district in Orissa. This village is located on the shores of
Chilika Lake (an IBA site), where people and birds having been
leading a peaceful co-existence since times immemorial. Keeping in
view potential for bird conservation in this area Wild Orissa
had constituted an organization, MA DUARSUNI PAKHI SURAKHYA SAMITI
(MDPSS), from amongst the local populace of Gambhari, Tua, Poradih
and Gola villages in the year 2002. This organization was set-up
with an overall aim of motivating the people of the said villages
to involvement themselves in conservation of birds and their
habitats, and also to associate with the governmental efforts in
birds conservation.
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