The environment and forests department is working on a plan to attract a large number of migratory birds every year.

The initiative entails setting up of community reserves near water bodies in north Bihar districts. The move aims to involve locals in the bird protection work, as migratory birds remain high on the priority list of poachers who sell these fowls at steep rates in the local markets.

According to the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002, the state government has the power to declare a place a community reserve, where the community voluntarily comes forward to conserve wildlife and its habitat.

In such reserves, the land rights remain with the landowners and the state government has the freedom to provide funds to develop basic infrastructure for visitors. Those engaged in the work could earn something through providing services to visitors as well.

Regional chief conservator of forests (RCCF), Muzaffarpur, Santosh Tiwari told The Telegraph: "I have asked all the divisional forest officers under my jurisdiction to do a survey of water bodies in their respective areas, where migratory birds come every year. Once this identification process is completed, the department would then start interacting with locals to engage them in protection work of the migratory birds."

Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra, Motihari, Hajipur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur and Madhubani divisions fall under the jurisdiction of RCCF, Muzaffarpur. Most of these districts have several water bodies, where migratory birds arrive October onwards. Many such water bodies are oxbow lakes (formed when meandering rivers abandon a particular path leaving behind water bodies in the form of a lake).

Regional chief conservator of forests Tiwari added: "Once the water bodies are identified, officials would be asked to hold meeting with locals so that they could be engaged in protecting migratory birds from the poachers. The migration season starts from October and lasts till the second half of February."

"After doing the preliminary work, the department plans to give basic training to groups of people who reside near the water bodies so that they could identify birds and tell visitors about them. Moreover, the locals would also be trained to use the water bodies in a manner in which they would benefit without harming the migratory birds," he added.