The ‘Patna Declaration’ is a significant initiative by the Bihar government, formulated in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC) and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), India. It aims to bolster bird conservation efforts and tackle the challenges of illegal hunting, taking, and trade of migratory birds in the South Asian region.
The declaration was created to address the pressing issue of illegal hunting and to promote the conservation of migratory birds across the South Asian region. It seeks to establish a task force, implement guidelines and action plans, and propose new recommendations to combat these specific problems effectively.
3. What are the key components of the ‘Patna Declaration’?
Key components include:
Establishment of a task force on illegal killing, taking, and trade of migratory birds.
Facilitation of the implementation of guidelines and action plans.
Promotion of cross-sectoral mechanisms among enforcement, regulatory, and development organizations.
Encouragement of collaboration between countries and organizations along the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) and East Asian Australasian Flyway (EAAF).
4. How does the ‘Patna Declaration’ aim to combat illegal bird hunting?
The declaration aims to combat illegal bird hunting through massive awareness campaigns among local communities, enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) under the Wildlife Protection Action Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022), and fostering international collaboration for bird conservation.
5. Who is involved in the ‘Patna Declaration’?
The declaration involves various stakeholders, including DEFCC and BNHS, participating delegates from eight countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Singapore, and the Netherlands), conservationists, state forest officials, and academia.
6. What is the significance of the ‘Patna Declaration’?
The ‘Patna Declaration’ is a milestone document aiming to prioritize conservation actions at regional, national, and state levels. It represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges faced by migratory birds in the South Asian region, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts in conservation.
7. How will the ‘Patna Declaration’ be implemented?
Implementation will involve the creation of a task force, the execution of awareness campaigns, the enforcement of legal frameworks like CITES, and the promotion of cross-sectoral collaboration among various stakeholders involved in bird conservation.
SRIRAM’s
