Many bird species travel thousands of kilometres along this route every year, depending on wetlands, forests and coastal habitats across several countries
BNHS and BirdLife jointly organised a capacity-building workshop on migratory bird conservation from March 9 to March 13, 2026 in New Delhi. Pic/Special Arrangement
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and BirdLife International has joined hands to protect migratory birds and wetlands in parts of India, an official statement said.
BNHS and BirdLife jointly organised a capacity-building workshop on migratory bird conservation from March 9 to March 13, 2026 in New Delhi.
The event was held in Delhi and brought together more than 45 participants from 13 countries in the Central Asian Flyway region.
The workshop aims to strengthen cooperation among conservation groups working to protect migratory birds and their habitats.
Focus on the Central Asian Flyway
The Central Asian Flyway is one of the world’s major migratory bird routes, stretching from Siberia in the north to Sri Lanka and Maldives in the south.
Many bird species travel thousands of kilometres along this route every year, depending on wetlands, forests and coastal habitats across several countries.
The workshop was designed to help partner organisations learn new methods to protect these habitats and reduce threats such as illegal hunting and habitat loss, the statement said.
Key goals of workshop
The workshop aims to strengthen conservation work across the flyway through several initiatives -
- Assessing ecosystem services provided by important bird habitats and understanding their benefits for local communities.
- Restoring wetlands and natural systems using nature-based solutions to support biodiversity and climate resilience.
- Promoting nature-safe energy infrastructure to ensure power projects do not harm migratory birds.
- Supporting governments in monitoring wildlife crime and preventing illegal hunting of birds.
- Using bird tagging technology to track migration routes and understand habitat use.
- Encouraging knowledge sharing among NGOs and governments across the flyway.
- Participants are also expected to learn about India’s conservation initiatives and share successful practices with their respective countries.
India’s role in migratory bird conservation
The official statement further stated that India has been playing a leading role in protecting migratory birds in the region.
During the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals COP14 held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Government of India introduced the Initiative for the Central Asian Flyway (ICAF).
For its efforts in conserving migratory birds, India was also awarded the “Champion Plus” status by the Convention.
Government officials address delegates
The workshop was inaugurated on March 9, with senior officials interacting with participants.
Rajeev Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, spoke about government projects aimed at protecting bird habitats along major rivers.
Praveen Pardeshi, Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and CEO of MITRA, also interacted with the delegates and explained conservation initiatives being carried out by the state government.
Kishor Rithe, Director of BNHS, highlighted the organisation’s 142 years of bird migration research in India.
Meanwhile, Vinayagan Dharmarajah, Regional Director of BirdLife Asia, explained the objectives of the workshop and said it could bring positive changes across nearly 30 countries located along the Central Asian Flyway.
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