GUWAHATI, June 6 - With a view to conserving the ecology and ecosystem of the city by involving all stakeholders, including different departments, students, civil society, experts and common citizens, the Kamrup Metro district administration has drawn up a �Guwahati City Biodiversity Conservation and Management Roadmap� for the period from June 2016 to May 2017.
Officials said that as part of the roadmap different activities will be undertaken each month involving various sections of the society.
The year-long initiative will begin this month with launch of a �Guwahati City Stray Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Programme�.
This will involve rescue and rehabilitation of wild stray animals in the city with help of the nature group Help Earth, the forest department, City Police and the district administration.
Simultaneously, in June itself work will start on mapping the urban biodiversity of Guwahati by involving school students using the website www.wemap.in. The urban biodiversity mapping project will continue throughout the next one year.
In July, work will be taken up at certain locations to pitch nets under trees known as nesting grounds of birds. This will be done to reduce mortality of chicks that at times tend to fall down from their nests.
Workshops on snake bite prevention, first aid management and treatment for forest and medical staff will be held in August. There will also be an Independence Day rally involving students with the theme �I love Guwahati and its Biodiversity�.
In September, poster designing programmes for school students with themes like �Green and Clean Guwahati�, �My Guwahati after 10 years� and �I love my City Animal� will be organised.
This will be followed by observance of the Wild Life Week in October, with a series of events including urban biodiversity tour in Guwahati for school students, quiz competitions, and involving kids in innovative ideas and designs for animal homes and distribution of bird boxes.
A follow-up on the Guwahati City Stray Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Programme is planned for November. The same month there will also be urban biodiversity tours for college students.
December will witness the launch of the �Guwahati Green Home� award, where people of the city can nominate their home for consideration. The houses with best greenery and biodiversity shall be considered.
There will be debate competitions for school and college students on the theme �Development and biodiversity cannot go hand in hand� in January next year.
In February, work will be taken up to promote water hyacinth as an alternative source of livelihood for the local community around the Deepor Beel. Workshops will be organised for the locals of the area to teach them the art of handicraft making through the stem of water hyacinth.
March will see essay writing competitions for students on the topic �Biodiversity of my Guwahati in the year 2030�.
A checklist of urban biodiversity of Guwahati will be created in April, besides holding of another follow-up of the Guwahati City Stray Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Programme.
The year-long series of events will culminate in May next year with announcement of the winner of the Guwahati Green Home award coinciding with the World Biodiversity Day.
