Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 13: The Wildlife Protection Department in collaboration with Department of Environment, Ecology and Remote Sensing J&K has successfully organised certificate course on Bird Identification and Basic Ornithology, under Green Skill Development Programme of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
Under the skill development programme, 20 students selected through screening process drawn from all over the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh notably from district Kargil, Kishtwar, Jammu and Kahtua have benefited.
It is pertinent to mention here that UTs of J&K and Ladakh are bestowed with rich bird diversity because of its diverse eco-system and unique location representing palaeooriental Zoo-geographic realm.
Out of more than 10,000 birds, species across world, India is known to represent over 1300 birds species amongst which the UT of J&K has 400 plus bird species.
The Jammu Region has globally acclaimed Wetlands such as Surinsar-Mansar and Gharana which are home to several native, endemic and endangered species especially during the winter months.
The participants of the certificate course were exposed to these important wetlands on daily basis along with Ornithologists, Bird Watchers, Wildlifers, Naturalists like Dr Parmil Kumar (Jammu University), Pankaj Chibber (IIIM), Dr Neeraj Sharma (Jammu University), Dr Vikas Dogra (Jammu University), Dr Muzaffar Ahmad Kitchloo, Dr Aziz Ahmad, Dr Sudesh Kumar, Dr Vipin & Vinita Sharma of Department of Zoology, Central University Jammu.
The chief guest, Dr Neelu Gera, Director Department of Environment, Ecology and Remote Sensing J&K during the course completion ceremony highlighted the Govt of India initiatives on skill development among unemployed youths across different sectors including the Green sectors such as Forestry, Environment, Eco-Tourism, Wildlife etc.
Suresh Kr. Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden J&K during his concluding remarks emphasized on the role of various Government initiatives in tackling various issues of forestry and Wildlife sector.
Dr Kumar MK, Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu moderated the course as well as programme, while Amit Sharma, Wildlife Warden was the course coordinator.
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