The Patna Declaration stands as a crucial initiative launched by the Bihar government, in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC) and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), India. This declaration is designed to strengthen bird conservation efforts and tackle the significant challenges posed by illegal hunting, taking, and trade of migratory birds across the South Asian region.
Addressing the urgent need to curb illegal hunting, the Patna Declaration was established to promote the conservation of migratory birds throughout South Asia. It aims to put into place a task force, enforce guidelines and action plans, and present new recommendations to effectively combat these issues.
The declaration is composed of several key components:
To fight illegal bird hunting, the declaration focuses on massive awareness campaigns targeting local communities. It emphasizes enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) under the Wildlife Protection Action Act, 1972 (amended in 2022). Furthermore, it fosters international collaboration for comprehensive bird conservation efforts.
The Patna Declaration brings together a diverse group of stakeholders. These include DEFCC and BNHS, delegates from eight countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Singapore, and the Netherlands), conservationists, state forest officials, and members of academia.
This milestone document prioritizes conservation actions at regional, national, and state levels. It signifies a holistic approach to tackling the challenges faced by migratory birds in South Asia, highlighting the essential need for collaborative conservation efforts.
Effective implementation of the Patna Declaration will involve creating a dedicated task force, conducting awareness campaigns, enforcing legal frameworks such as CITES, and promoting cross-sectoral collaboration among diverse stakeholders engaged in bird conservation.
Kutos : AI Assistant!
