Taking note of the fall in the number of migratory birds visiting the Pong Dam wetland this year, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said behavioural changes of these birds need to be studied and measures taken to improve their habitats.
Presiding over the state-level event on the World Wetland Day in Jawali town, near the Pong Dam reservoir in Kangra district, he exhorted people to participate in conserving and restoring wetlands.
Wetlands help reduce flooding, replenish drinking water supplies, filter waste, provide urban green spaces, and were a source of livelihoods, he added.
"Himachal Pradesh encompasses a wide variety of wetlands, spread in various ecological zones which, apart from being biodiversity treasures, were sources of livelihood for the local community and had immense aesthetic and tourism values," Thakur said
The chief minister said the number of birds visiting Pong Dam this year was 1.10 Lakh as compared to 1.27 lakhs in 2017 -18, adding that the reason behind this was climatic change due to global warming.
However the number of species of migratory birds saw a rise from 93 in 2017-18 to 117 in 2018.
Thakur said the Ramsar wetland at Pong Dam witnessed increase in the number of migratory birds mostly from Siberia, Central Asia, Russia and the trans-Himalayan region in Tibet.
Conserving bio-diversity, flora and fauna of the state will give boost to tourism and attract tourists, the chief minister added.
He released a booklet titled 'Major Wetlands of Himachal Pradesh' and a calendar featuring the Pong Wetland.
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