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Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board in association with the Karnataka Forest Department and Institute of Wood Science and Technology organized “Moth Festival” to disseminate the sense of conservation of Moths. Online registrations for this program were hosted on Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board’s platform www.myecotrip.com, on which 48 public were registered. On the day of the event i.e., 16th July 2019 including the scientists working in the Institute of Wood Science and Technology and Registered participants, more than 70 people participated in the event.
The following are the topics presented at the event:
1. Mr. Thomas Vattakaven, a microbiologist by training and researcher at the India Biodiversity Portal spoke about the importance of Citizen Science in India and discussed data from 6 years of National Moth week.
2. Mr. Haneesh K M is an Electrical engineering professor at Christ University and one of the founders of the Bangalore butterfly club. He spoke about the Moth diversity in Bangalore and discussed their ecology.
3. Rachit Pratap Singh, a Christ University graduate and reviewer at the Moths of India website gave a general presentation on moths, discussing about their behaviours, identification, importance and everything in-between. With the above presentations, a video documentary about moths was presented and a practical session involving observing moths by erecting a white screen to attract various moths of the IWST campus.
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Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board, in collaboration with Karnataka Forest Department is organizing 6th Karnataka State Bird festival 2020 in the foot hills of Nandi Hills from 17th – 19th of Jan 2020. Located about 60 km north of Bengaluru, Nandi Hills is part of a conspicuous range of hills consisting of four other hillocks – the Brahmagiri, Channagiri, Dibbagiri and Skandagiri. Nandi Hills is one of the most sought-after bird-watching destinations of Bangalore. It is known to harbor over 200 species of birds. Some of the important birds that can be seen at Nandi Hills include, Blue-headed Rock Thrush, White-throated Ground-thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Pied Thrush, Indian Blue Robin, Olive-backed (Tree) Pipit, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, Spotted Babbler, Indian Scimitar-Babbler. The theme for the festival is Conservation of Vultures. Though Long Billed Vultures are not locally present in Nandi Hills, this species is endangered and awareness is required for its conservation. During this festival technical sessions by experts have been arranged along with birding visits. Interested birders may register at https://bit.ly/2ZA2Eko or www.myecotrip.com
On the occasion of Forest Martyrs Day observed on 11th September 2019 at Aranya Bhavan, Bengaluru Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri B.S.Yediyurappa promised that compensation given to the forest official martyred during discharge of duties will be enhanced from 20 lakhs to 30 lakhs, as in the case of Police Department officials. He promised that necessary Government Order will be issued to implement the same. He also said the Forest Department frontline staff for their dedicated service towards conservation of forest and wildlife, because of which Karnataka is the number one state in the Elephant population and number two in Tiger population. The function was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Sandeep Dave and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Sri Punati Sridhar. All senior officers of the forest department were also present. The Police Band performed three rounds of maneuvering on the occasion.
The Tiger census was released at New Delhi as part of Global Tiger Day on 29-07-2019. Heads of the Wildlife Wing of various states were present on the occasion. There was a photo session with Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Sri. Narendra Modi and Central Minister for Environment and Forest, Sri. Prakash Javdekar.