Bird & Habitat Conservation

Wetlands are vital ecosystems that replenish groundwater, filter pollutants, mitigate floods, store carbon, and sustain livelihoods. Birds connect ecosystems, people, and livelihoods. They pollinate, disperse seeds, control pests, and sustain agriculture. In India, birds also hold deep cultural and spiritual significance. Yet, many Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in India lack protection, making bird conservation and habitat conservation more important than ever.

In recent years, wetlands hosting resident and migratory birds are fast deteriorating due to pressure of development and indifference of the communities residing near these habitats. Many of these wetlands are not officially recognized by the Forest Departments, and remain under the control of the panchayats or other local bodies, highlighting the urgent need for Bird Habitat Protection and stronger habitat conservation efforts.

Ramsar status is accorded to the more prominent wetlands hosting significant biodiversity, which lends these locations some level of recognition and security. India has less than 100 Ramsar sites, while there are 467 IBAs across the country, many of which depend on consistent bird conservation efforts. There are many more which aren’t even recognized as IBA, but host thousands of migrant birds and require immediate attention under habitat conservation initiatives. The process of getting a waterbody as an official wetland takes many years, and Ramsar status even more, as the state and national governments go through a long administrative exercise, slowing down urgent Bird Habitat Protection needs.

It is in this context that the birdwatching community joined hands with Empower Trust, an NGO working in the area of bird conservation and habitat conservation, to work in wetlands with significant bird populations, yet do not have Ramsar status. The mission is to protect the unprotected wetlands and biodiversity from degradation and ensure the birds continue to live and migrate through this habitat, strengthening the broader Indian Bird Conservation Network.

It is universally accepted that when local communities be true stewards of the wetlands, conservation will be more effective and is sustainable. However, unless these communities stand to benefit in some form due to the wetland or its biodiversity, there would be very little interest to safeguard those as assets. Therefore, Empower Trust is working in unprotected wetlands to conserve the habitats and biodiversity through scientific wetland management and community empowerment, supporting long-term Bird Habitat Protection and scalable habitat conservation.

Scientific Wetland Management

Hydrological regulation to maintain optimal nesting water levels.
Floating nesting platforms to safeguard Sarus breeding and support bird conservation.
Removal of invasive species like water hyacinth.
Bathymetric re-profiling to restore water depth and strengthen habitat conservation.

Community Empowerment

Education modules in local schools and evening learning centers.
Health camps and hygiene awareness programs.
Livelihood clusters: water hyacinth crafts, eco-tourism services, and manufacture of local products under ODOP.

All the activities are managed from Enhanced Wetland Education Centers (WEC) set up near the wetland, supporting both bird conservation and community-driven habitat conservation, with facilities for interpretation, training hall, visitors’ lounge, a village-products shop, mini-café and toilets for visitors. Professionals will manage the program while about 500 volunteers from amongst the birdwatching community and the wider Indian Bird Conservation Network will be supporting all aspects of this initiative.

Unlike traditional Wetland Education Center (WEC) that aims at delivery of CEPA (Communications, Education, Participation and Awareness) activities for interpretation, the enhanced WEC is a living lab for conservation and a hub for community development, strengthening Bird Habitat Protection efforts.

Establishing a WEC in the proximity of a wetland has been a key strategy of educating communities and biodiversity conservation, as prescribed for Ramsar sites. Empower Trust works only in locations that are yet-to-be designated Ramsar sites or neglected sites, and therefore takes this concept a step further, making the WEC not only a facility for imparting conservation education, but the engine for the smooth management and delivery of education, health and livelihood activities aimed at the local community under this program, contributing to long-term habitat conservation and bird conservation.

This enhanced, yet basic and functional, WEC is set up in a village surrounding the habitat. It is the center for:

Innovative conservation initiatives
Meaningful engagement of volunteers
Promotion of e-tourism and birding as a serious hobby
Management and delivery of community development activities
Stronger Bird Habitat Protection and expansion of the Indian Bird Conservation Network

The low cost, high impact design will be a model for all Important Bird Areas (IBA) to be replicated across India and beyond, contributing to scalable habitat conservation. The digital outreach of the center goes beyond visitors through live stream bird counts, virtual tours, and use of citizen-science apps.

While the establishment will include initial infrastructure and programmatic support for three years, the center and many of its activities will be sustained through its volunteer base of bird enthusiasts and other incomes. The target audience for the enhanced WEC are the residents of the villages - especially women, youth and children, alongside the eco-tourists and the birders who visit the location in large numbers. The ultimate goal of the center is to change behaviors in pursuit of conservation, strengthening habitat conservation and long-term Bird Habitat Protection.

The objectives of setting up this Enhanced Wetland Education Center are:

Raise awareness of key bird species that are Near Threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), and Critically Endangered (CR) as per the IUCN, supporting bird conservation.
Deliver CEPA (Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness) activities to different audiences.
Enhance stewardship of wetlands through community engagement under habitat conservation.
Gain trust and cooperation of the community by linking development with conservation.
Encourage farmers to use less pesticides and adopt better practices.
Explain the importance of birds to youth and children.
Motivate visitors to participate in conservation activities.
Encourage collaboration through the Indian Bird Conservation Network.
Train volunteers in habitat and biodiversity conservation.
Provide a platform to conserve Sarus cranes and other birds under Bird Habitat Protection.
Support women-led livelihood initiatives.
Serve as the administrative center for local bird clubs.
Train local youth to become bird guides.
Promote bird photography for mental well-being.
Observe important environmental days like World Wetlands Day and World Migratory Bird Day, strengthening awareness around bird conservation.

The Enhanced Wetland Education Center (WEC) will use rented or temporary structures to comply with the ban on permanent construction within mean high flood level observed in the past ten years calculated from the date of commencement of the Wetlands Rules in 2017, while continuing to support habitat conservation and Bird Habitat Protection.

Conservation Activities Managed by WEC Hub

Bathymetric Re-profiling (Dredging): In areas where siltation has significantly reduced water depth, limited manual desilting of specific channels may be undertaken to ensure water reaches the central nesting islets.
Creation of Floating Nesting Platforms: To mitigate the threat of fluctuating water levels, the project will pilot the installation of artificial nesting platforms. These floating islands, anchored to the wetland bed, rise and fall with the water level, ensuring nests are never flooded or stranded on dry land. This technique has proven successful for crane conservation globally.
Clean-up of wetland and surrounding areas: Regular drives for removal of plastic and invasive weeds such as water hyacinth help strengthen habitat conservation and ensure long-term Bird Habitat Protection.

Bird & Habitat Conservation

The objectives of setting up this Enhanced Wetland Education Center are:

Conservation Activities Managed by WEC Hub

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