Kerala: Provide home to birds, get a reward

ALAPPUZHA: Kerala is home to a vast army of migrant labour, but the migratory birds are not so fortunate as the trees which provide them homes are vanishing, especially in the Kuttanad region. To prevent this, the Social Forestry Department has hit upon a novel idea. It is  planning to distribute monthly remuneration to private property owners who preserve trees with cavities where birds can come to roost.The department will spend Rs 145 lakh to protect the trees under  the Kuttanad package. Alappuzha district will get Rs 95 lakh and Kottayam Rs 50 lakh. The Kuttanad region, including the Pathiramanal Island, is one of the biggest biodiversity parks in Asia.  It is a paradise for migratory birds and hundreds of them came to the region  every year.Researchers have found over 88 species of birds at Pathiramanal Island and the nearby eco system. Deforestation has reduced the number of migratory and local variety of birds.Assistant forest conservator S Sreekumar said the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation had suggested steps to protect the biodiversity of the Kuttanad region, including bird varieties.The land owner having trees must file an application to the forest department giving his biodata and the details of the tree, its genre, the bird varieties which nestled on the tree,  the number of cavities and a recent colour photograph of the tree.Along with a recommendation letter from the local self- government representative, the owner must submit an affidavit that he/she will  protect the tree at least for one year. The rate of remuneration per tree has not been decided.The outer bunds of the kayal land were full of  trees once. They were later cut by the owners reducing the dwelling of migratory birds. The forest officials feel  that the new move will help extend the life of  big trees in the kayal lands and shore.