'Ratify CMS convention to conserve birds'

Speakers at a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday said an expert group from Russia, Germany and the UK would conduct the survey on this globally endangered species along with local biologists and bird lovers.

The survey will continue at Bhola-Patuakhali, Laksmipur-Noakhali and Cox's Bazar-Teknaf coasts till January 25.

The 17-centimeter-long shorebird with a spoon-like bill inhabits the coastal areas of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and a few other neighbouring countries in winter.

But its number has been declining for the last few years for unknown reasons and has reduced to mere 300 breeding pairs at present.

The survey aims at finding out the reasons behind its declination and the present condition of this bird in the country, the speakers said.

Chairman of Wildlife of Bangladesh Enayetullah Khan said of the country's 700 species of birds, about 300 are migrants and they face multitude of threats during migration.

Bangladesh is a signatory to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity. But it is yet to ratify them while many other countries have already ratified them, he added.

The speakers urged the government to ratify the conventions soon to reassure political and social commitment of the country to conserve the birds and all other life forms.

Team leader Dr Christopher Zockler, National Coordinator of Waterfowl Census in Bangladesh Enam Ul Haque and UNB Chairman Amanullah Khan also spoke at the press conference organised by Bangladesh Birds Club and Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh.