Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will inaugurate the first "International conference on the conservation of sarus and wetlands", with a special focus on conservation of birds like sarus crane (Grus antigone), on the occasion of World Wetland Day on February 2 at Saifai in Etawah. Experts from several states and foreign countries are expected to participate.
The conference will be organized by Uttar Pradesh State Sarus Crane Conservation Society, in association with the International Crane Foundation and Bombay Natural History Society.Uttar Pradesh State Sarus Crane Conservation Society, in association with the International Crane Foundation and Bombay Natural History Society.
Sarus is also the state bird and the state government is working hard for its conservation. Etawah and its neighbouring Mainpuri district boasts of nearly 3,500 of the total 13,670 sarus population in the state.
During it's previous regime, the Samajwadi Party (SP) government had been instrumental in the creation of theSarus Protection Society. The core objective of the society was to study ecology and provide support to activities that would ensure the survival of the state bird sarus in perpetuity. The state, which boasts of nearly 1,33,000 wetlands, also has longest running research and conservation programme for this species in South Asia.
"Starting February 2, a two-day event -- "International conference on the conservation of sarus and wetlands" -- is slated to take place at Saifai in Etawah," informed additional principal chief conservator of forests (eco- development) Vikas Verma while talking to TOI on Wednesday.
The forest department sources also informed that during the conference, the chief minister is also likely to announce the establishment of the Institute for Wildlife Studies in the state. "Besides, the CM will also unveil a coffee table book on sarus crane. The conference, which is first of it's kind, will witness participation of noted researchers, academicians, bird photographers, travel writers and naturalists from across the country including Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Orissa and MadhyaPradesh and countries like the US, the UK, Australia, Combodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Nepal," a senior forest officer told TOI.
He said that special arrangements have been made for a field visit by national and foreign delegates besides students, teachers and youths to Saman Bird Sanctuary which boasts of a good number of sarus population and is located in the neighbouring Mainpuri district. Focus will be on evolving and upgrading landscape-level conservation and management plans for all 12 bird sanctuaries in the state.
"Not only the conference will provide a forum for deliberation on conservation of wetlands and bird habitats, it will also promote UP as an international bird watching and ecotourism destination," said Rajiv Chauhan of the Society for Conservation of Nature, who had been working hard on sarus conservation in the region, while lauding the state government's initiative.
The event will also witness a colourful cultural evening with kathak performance by Birju Maharaj and 'Phoolon ki Holi' on the inaugural day of the conference.