Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 42/22

FIRST MAIDEN ASIAN WATERBIRD CENSUS 2022 CONDUCTED IN MEGHALAYA

The Meghalaya Biodiversity Board organized and conducted the First/Maiden Asian Water bird Census 2022 simultaneously at five sites namely, Umsaw, Umbir, Umniuh, Mawlyndep and Umiam covering the wetland areas of Umiam Lake Ri Bhoi District today the 19th February with support and guidance from professionals involving the nearby Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) Members together with the presence of the Chief Wildlife Warden and Member Secretary, Meghalaya Biodiversity Board.

The Experts involved on the day were Dr. Sonali Ghosh, IFS CCF (R and WP) from Assam Forest Department, Dr Bibhuti Lahkar, Dr Udayan Borthakur, Dr Pranjal Kumar Das and Dr Leons Mathiew Abhaham (Veterinarian) from Aaranyak and others.

In a short meeting held at Lum Nehru Park Umiam, Ri Bhoi District, the Experts highlighted that the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC). This citizen-science programme is supporting the conversation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide is done annually between the month of January and February, wherein volunteers across Asia and Australasia visit wetlands in their country and count waterbirds. It works in partnership with many existing national waterbird census programmes.

In today’s programme more than 70 volunteers took part including Experts, professionals involving the nearby Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), Range Forest Officer trainees, Byrnihat, representatives from Meghalaya Forest Department and Meghalaya Biodiversity Board.

As per a Bird Checklist of citizen Science, more than 40 waterbirds are listed for Ri Bhoi District. During the exercise about 102 waterbirds comprising of 8 species were observed.

The Experts also stated that it is for the first time that Asian Waterbirds Census have been conducted in Meghalaya and this is a small beginning for which the Board will be taking up more such exercises in the year ahead.