Ukhrul Forest Division and ENFOGAL recorded 73 bird species and 803 individual birds during a three-day census at Shirui and Phangrei.
Ukhrul, May 20: The Ukhrul Forest Division, in association with the Environmental Force at Grass root Level (ENFOGAL) and the Department of Zoology of Pettigrew College, concluded a three-day bird census programme at Shirui and Phangrei ahead of the upcoming International Day for Biological Diversity.
The census exercise was organised as part of efforts to promote biodiversity conservation and strengthen scientific documentation of the region’s avian population. Students from the Department of Zoology, Pettigrew College, actively participated in the field survey alongside forest officials, researchers and conservation volunteers.
During the programme, participants received hands-on training in bird species identification, census methodologies and the use of digital tools such as Merlin Bird ID and eBird for avian documentation.
According to the organisers, the survey documented a rich diversity of birdlife across the Shirui and Phangrei landscapes. A total of 73 bird species were identified during the three-day exercise, while 803 individual birds were recorded across the survey sites.
The technical team conducting the census included Patrick Sangh of ENFOGAL, Dr. Gaikhuanlung Ngaomei, Dr. Ersilla Jajo, Dr. Christian Erni, Shunringla Rungsung and student volunteers.
Officials told NE Dispatch that the findings would help create a baseline inventory for long-term ecological monitoring in the region. The data collected during the census is expected to assist the Forest Department in assessing the ecological health of the Shirui and Phangrei areas and in shaping future conservation measures.
Speaking during an interactive session, Laishram Gitla, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer of Ukhrul, said the initiative was aimed at encouraging environmental stewardship among young people through direct participation in scientific conservation activities.
“The core objective of aligning this census with the International Day for Biological Diversity is to instill a deep sense of environmental stewardship among the youth and transform them into young ambassadors of the region,” the DFO said.
She added that involving local students in scientific monitoring could help build a stronger community-based conservation movement to protect the biodiversity of Ukhrul district.
The Ukhrul Forest Division stated that it would continue organising participatory conservation programmes with the involvement of local communities, organisations and students, stressing that long-term forest protection depends on collective public participation.
