ASIAN WATERBIRD CENSUS - REPORTS AND INDICES
News: Rise
in waterbird count recorded in Kerala's capital
What's in the news?
● The
Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2023 has recorded a 65% increase in waterbirds in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district,
albeit with a slight dip in the count of species.
Key takeaways:
● The
annual census was jointly conducted by WWF-India and the social forestry wing
of the Kerala Forest Department.
● It
enumerated 5,396 birds belonging to 70 species from 11 sites spread across the
district.
Asian Waterbird Census:
● The
Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) was started in 1987.
● It
is an annual exercise to count the waterbirds and monitor the wetlands for
conservation of migratory birds and
their habitats along the Central Asian
Flyway.
Conducted by:
● The
census is conducted by Wetlands
International and forms part of a global waterbird monitoring programme
called the International Waterbird
Census (IWC).
● In
India, AWC is coordinated by the Wetlands
International South Asia and the Bombay Natural History Society.
Objectives:
● To
obtain information on an annual basis of waterbird populations at wetlands in
the region during the non-breeding period of most species.
● To
monitor on an annual basis the status and condition of wetlands.
● To
encourage greater interest in waterbirds and wetlands amongst citizens.
● Raising awareness
of waterbirds and waterbird conservation issues.
● Supporting
local conservation activities at wetlands.
Significance:
● Waterbirds are one of the
key indicators of wetlands health.
● The
information so generated is used to identify wetlands of high importance for
waterbirds, and take conservation measures such as designation as Ramsar Sites
and Flyway Network Sites, or inclusion as priority wetlands within national
programmes.