The survival of birds inhabiting lakes and wetland areas outside conservation zones in Kanchanpur is increasingly at risk. Uncontrolled poaching, illegal trade, climate change, pesticide and insecticide use, chemical fertilizers, water pollution, plastic waste, excessive water extraction for irrigation, and the drying up of lakes for fishing have all intensified challenges in bird conservation.
Hirulal Dagaura, an ornithologist at the Bird Conservation Society of Nepal (BCN), stated that shrinking wetland areas have disrupted bird habitats. “Eighty-six percent of bird species have been found to be at risk due to encroachment on lakes and wetlands,” he said. “The use of pesticides not only threatens bird habitats in lakes and ponds but is also directly killing birds, putting their existence in jeopardy.”
According to him, a 2017 survey at Puraini Lake in Belauri Municipality-6 recorded 2,200 waterfowl. However, by 2025, the number had dropped to just 705. The primary cause of this annual decline is habitat destruction. Birds play a crucial role in sowing seeds, aiding plant growth, pollination, ecosystem balance, and insect control. Besides their ecological significance, they also support ecotourism and have religious and cultural importance.
Dagaura emphasized that local governments and administrative bodies must take action to prevent the killing and hunting of birds using pesticides. With the support of BCN, awareness programs, including discussions, seminars, and bird observation events, are being conducted at the community level. These programs stress the importance of protecting wetland areas to ensure bird conservation.
Sandesh Chaudhary, chairman of the Kanchanpur Bird Conservation Group, highlighted ongoing efforts to educate communities about the vital role of wetlands in sustaining human life. “Human society shares an essential and fundamental relationship with wetlands,” he said. “Beyond providing fresh water, wetlands act as natural water reservoirs, making their preservation critical.”
According to a survey, more than half of the world's food depends on crops grown in wetland ecosystems. Wetland fish serve as the primary protein source for over a billion people worldwide, while rice cultivated in wetlands feeds 3.5 billion people annually. Despite their significance, wetlands are increasingly being encroached upon due to a lack of awareness, threatening both migratory birds and other wildlife that rely on them for resting, feeding, and breeding.
Deputy Mayor of Belauri Municipality, Jogram Chaudhary, stressed the collective responsibility in protecting wetlands, which serve as key habitats for both native and migratory birds. He expressed willingness to collaborate with BCN to implement structured conservation programs for wetlands and waterfowl within the municipality.
“Every year, birds travel great distances to reach lakes and wetland areas in search of ample food, safe breeding grounds, and favorable weather,” said bird conservationist Suban Chaudhary. “To protect the birds that enhance the beauty of our lakes, fishing in these water bodies should be regulated, and the killing of birds through pesticide use must be strictly discouraged.”
Kanchanpur is home to 480 bird species, including nine species listed as protected. Among them are the white eagle, black eagle, black-crowned crane, small black-crowned crane, and royal swan. According to Dinesh Kumar Yadav, chief of the Kunda Sub-Division Forest Office, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029 prescribes fines ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 or imprisonment from three to nine months, or both, for hunting, killing, or injuring protected birds.
The same act imposes a penalty of Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000 or imprisonment of one to ten years for killing or injuring protected wildlife. -- RSS
