CHILIKA
LAGOON GETS COVETED UN STATUS
Odisha's Chilika lagoon, hotspot for
biodiversity, has been named 'destination flyways' by United Nations World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO) following its inclusion in a list of eight such
sites worldwide.
Official sources said the lagoon was so named for
its sustainable and resilient destination for migratory birds.
The UN's body arm, under the project “Destination Flyways”, will help Chilika
Development Authority (CDA) develop strategies for protection of migratory
birds through creation of innovative tourism and livelihood products with
funding support from Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation
and Nuclear Safety of Germany.
The UN body’s arm on tourism and biodiversity would assist in development and
implementation of strategies and projects linking sustainable tourism and
livelihood resources.
Chilika is the only site to be selected from Asia by the UNWTO and was
recommended by six international agencies such as Secretariat of the Convention
of Biological Diversity, Convention of Migratory Species, Ramsar Convention
Secretariat, World Heritage and Man and the Biosphere Programmes of UNESCO.
The UNWTO has constituted a mission team for Chilika in January.
This season, around 7.19 lakh migratory birds have been sighted in the 1100-sq
km lagoon , which is less than the previous years.
Last winter, around 8.77 lakh birds of 180 species had visited the lake and
8.83 lakh birds of 167 species had visited the blue lagoon in 2012.
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