WORLD WETLAND DAY 2016 Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihood Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA),Odisha,India in association with Mangrove Forest Division (Wildlife), Rajnagar was celebrated the World Wetland Day 2016 at Balipatana High School, Balipatana on 2nd February, 2016. The programme was inaugurated by Mr Bimal Prasanna Acharaya, Divisional Forest Officer, Mangrove Forest Division (Wl), Rajnagar. Among others Mr Dibakar Biswal, President of District Journalist Union, Kendrapara, Mr Gopinath Dash, District Coordinator of Eco Club, Mr Biraja Prasad Pati, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Mr Manoj Satapathy, Eco club master trainer, Mr Pradeep Kumar Mishra, head master, Balipatana High School and Mr Bijaya Kumar Kabi, Director, APOWA were attend the meeting as resource persons. On this occasion, about 75 students from 15 schools were also participated in an ecological quiz competition. Apart from that, school teachers, forest range officers, foresters, NGOs, volunteers were also participated in the programme.
Struggling for Livelihood by inhabitants of Bhitarkanika Mangrove Ecosystem: Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem (also a Ramsar site) is one of the most ecologically sensitive, unique mangrove forests and second largest in the country. Bhitarkanika mangrove forest is surrounded by 410 villages and more than 2.4 lakhs people of these villages area routinely struggle for their livelihood with a number of adverse factors, typical to the water logging, and soil and water salinity, the climate change induced disasters like flood, cyclones and sea level rise etc. The brackish soil does not provide more than one crops except paddy per annum, which might also been destroyed by natural calamities and wild animals. The absence of local employment opportunities along with climate change impacts and habitat destruction, are creating more demand on the Bhitrakanika mangrove resources which is under pressure, fragile and threatened. Nevertheless, degradation of Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem remains a matter of concern, emphasizing the fact that effective management of mangrove resources is possible only active participation of local communities. We observed that local communities in the area have positive attitudes towards mangroves, but their socio-economic conditions pressured people’s attitudes. Local communities valued those functions of mangrove forests that were directly linked to their wellbeing. Despite of human-wildlife conflict, the local communities valued the functions of mangroves for their wellbeing. Hence, increasing their alternative livelihood options may reduce the pressure on mangroves. APOWA has been doing so through involving local communities in restoration and conservation of mangroves along with promoting alternative livelihood in Bhitarkanika area in small scale which need to be strengthening and scale up. We at APOWA believe that wetland day or conservation not just on February 2, or one week but all year long.
Best wishes, Action for Protection of Wild Animals (APOWA) Village- Hatapatana, PO-Kadaliban, Dist.-Kendrapara, Odisha, Pin-754222, India