The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2006 in India

Field Training on Wetland Ecology and Nature Orientation Camp at Deepor Beel

Aaranyak, a society for biodiversity conservation, in association with Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) had organized a field training on wetland ecology and nature orientation camp at Deepor Beel on the occasion of World Wetland Day on 2nd Feb 2006. The camp was attended by school and college students from Kendriya Vidyalay, Naregi; Guwahati College; Dispur Law College and a few other educational institutions; and persons having keen interest on environment.

The programme commenced with a presentation on some basic birdwatching tips by Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Secretary General of Aaranyak. Thereafter the participants had a practical experience in birdwatching under the able guidance of Dr. Talukdar. Equipped with binoculars, the participants enthusiastically identified various species of migratory as well as the endemic birds of the Deepor Beel. Apart from birds, students were also helped to identify various aquatic plants and their significance.

Advocate Ajoy Kumar Das delivered a presentation on ‘The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat’ popularly known as the ‘Ramsar Convention’. Advocate Das who is a legal researcher at Aaranyak and also a practicing advocate of Guwahati briefed the attendants on the importance of the Convention in relation to wetlands with specific reference to Deepor Beel and the provisions mentioned the Convention. He also added that the Ramsar Convention emphasises on conservation and wise use of wetlands mainly to provide habitat for water birds.

The programme was concluded with a brief discussion among the participants on wetland ecology and the need for its conservation, which was initiated by Mayuri Gogoi, Research Associate of Aaranyak. She formally thanked the attendants for their active participation and appealed to them to carry forth the cause of conservation.

This release is made by -

Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Ph.D
Secretary General, Aaranyak
50 Samanwoy Path (Survey)
PO: Beltola, Guwahati - 781 028
Assam, India
www.aaranyak.org

For further information about World Wetlands Day or the Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 3 February 2006, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.