Great hornbill declared flagship species for Ratnagiri at bird conference

Kolhapur: The state forest department declared the Great hornbill a ‘flagship species for Ratnagiri' district during a two-day statewide bird conference organised at Ratnagiri on Feb 22 and 23. The conference highlighted that nine hornbill species are found in India, of which four are found in the Western Ghats, especially in Ratnagiri district. In a presentation on hornbill birds titled ‘Farmers of Forest', Pratik More, of the Sahyadri Sankalp Society and a member of IUCN for SSS Hornbill Specialist Group, said: "Hornbill birds cultivate the forest for many years. Their excreta can aid in seed dispersal in a range of almost 12sqkm. Extended monsoon and climate change have affected the breeding cycle of the hornbills. Therefore, it is our responsibility to save and conserve their habitat." Apart from the Farmers of Forest presentation, the conference also featured sessions on coastal and migratory avifauna, natural habitats and avian diversity, along with a bird trail, a philately exhibition of postal stamps based on wildlife, and a musical folk play spreading a social message to save vultures. It received a great response from bird lovers from across the state.Former principal chief conservator of forests Sunil Limaye said, "To save the forest cover, everyone must take care that trees are not felled. Only forests can save bird habitats. Birds are seed dispersers. In nature, the process of planting, growing and keeping trees alive is naturally done by birds. It is necessary for everyone to come together, form pressure groups, and work to save and restore bird habitat. A few places like grasslands, sacred groves, and wetlands where many birds come are not declared ‘forest' on paper. Such places should be found, and collective efforts should be made to declare them forest lands."Kolhapur's chief conservator of forests, G Guruprasad, said, "It is necessary to get everyone's cooperation to protect birds and animals." STR field director Tushar Chavan said, "The importance of this bird conference will be highlighted in the coming time. There are 1,300 bird species in India, and about 500 in Maharashtra. Of them, 220 bird species are migratory. The Sahyadri is the backbone of Konkan. This conference will definitely benefit bird habitat conservation."In the introduction of the programme, divisional forest officer Girija Desai said the bird conference was organised with the concept, guidance, and cooperation of guardian minister Dr Uday Samant and Ratnagiri collector Munaj Jindal. "Ratnagiri district has a 167km coastline, and the Sahyadri ranges. There is a large variety of animals and birds here. More than 350 species of birds are found here. Bird lovers, experts, and researchers must make efforts to put Ratnagiri on the world map as a nature and bird tourism spot."Chief conservator of forests and area director of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Jitendra Ramgaonkar; chief conservator of forests, Kolhapur, G Guruprasad; field director for Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Tushar Chavan; deputy field director, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Kiran Jagtap; divisional forest officer of social forestry department, Ranjit Gaikwad; divisional forest officer, Girija Desai; assistant conservator of forests, Priyanka Lagad; district information officer, Prashant Satpute; ornithologist, Bhau Katdare; Maharashtra Pakshi Mitra Sanghatana executive director Prof Gajanan Wagh; representatives of various social organisations; bird watchers from across the state; bird researchers; bird scholars; and forest department employees attended in large numbers.