Guwahati: Aaranyak, the region’s leading biodiversity conservation organisation, observed the World Wetlands Day (WWD) at Tilapara Kherpuji Senior Basic School, located near the Doloni Beel in Bongaigaon district, Assam.
The event, jointly organised by Aaranyak’s West Assam zone and the head office, in collaboration with Tilapara Kherpuji Senior Basic School, Department of Botany of Abhayapuri College, and Tilapara Milan Sangha, aimed to raise awareness among students, teachers, and the community about the significance of wetland conservation.
Aligned with this year’s World Wetlands Day theme, “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing,” the program emphasised the crucial role wetlands play in sustaining ecosystems and human livelihoods.
The day commenced with an ‘Awareness Procession’ through the village streets, featuring students, teachers, Aaranyak members, and local residents. A drawing competition on the theme “Natural scenery of your locality” engaged students in creative expression.
A public awareness meeting convened at the school premises drew over 200 students, along with women from local Self Help Groups, teachers, and villagers. Dr. Ashoke Kumar Das, Assistant Professor of Botany at Abhayapuri College and Coordinator of Aaranyak’s West Assam Zone, delivered the inaugural address, highlighting the multifaceted benefits of wetlands for society.
Dr. Partha Jyoti Das, an esteemed Environmental Scientist and senior scientist at Aaranyak, underscored the importance of Doloni Beel for local food security and livelihoods, urging community and student involvement in its protection and preservation. Dr. Das leads a research project on Doloni Beel supported by the Assam Forest Department and GIZ-India under the Indo German Bilateral Cooperation project “Protection and Sustainable Management of Aquatic Resources in the North Eastern Himalayan Region of India (NERAQ).
Patricia Dorn, Project Manager of NERAQ, GIZ India, emphasised the importance of environmental stewardship on World Wetlands Day, urging students to maintain cleanliness and refrain from littering the Doloni wetland with plastic waste.
Monirut Zaman, representing Tilapara Milan Sangha, expressed gratitude to Aaranyak for organizing the event, promising support for Doloni Beel conservation efforts. Assistant Teacher Mofuduz Zaman Sarkar voiced concerns about environmental degradation near Doloni Beel due to industrial activities like brick kilns.
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The event concluded with the distribution of Aaranyak’s environmental publications, book prizes for drawing competition winners, and a vote of thanks from Mr. Ankur Barman, Assistant Coordinator of Aaranyak’s West Zone.
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