Important Facts For Prelims
Asian Waterbird Census
- 14 Jan 2023
- 3 min read
Why in News?
A survey conducted as part of the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2023 shows the populations of some migratory waterbirds, especially duck species visiting the Alappuzha region of Kerala, are falling.
What are the Highlights of the Survey?
- Major Missing Species:
- Duck species like Northern Shoveler, Common teal and Eurasian wigeon, sighted in the previous surveys, were totally missing this time around.
- Climate Change Impact:
- Climate change has affected the number of birds visiting the region. However, the precise impact of climate change on bird migration requires more detailed studies.
What is the Asian Waterbird Census?
- About:
- It is a citizen-science programme supporting conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide.
- AWC is part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC) coordinated by Wetlands International.
- AWC runs in parallel with other regional programmes of the IWC in Africa, Europe, West Asia, the Neotropics and the Caribbean.
- It is a citizen-science programme supporting conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide.
- AWC in India:
- It was initiated in the Indian subcontinent in 1987 and since then has grown rapidly to cover major regions of Asia, from Afghanistan eastwards to Japan, Southeast Asia and Australasia.
- In India, AWC is jointly coordinated by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wetlands International.
- Significance:
- It gives an idea of the birds at the wetland and the health of the wetland; the more the waterbirds, the more suitable the wetland is.
- It helps in better implementation of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Convention on Biological Diversity‘s (CBD).
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Q. With reference to a conservation organization called ‘Wetlands International’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2014)
- It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to the Ramsar Convention.
- It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge and use practical experience to advocate for better policies.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (b)
