Wildlife Research and Conservation Society

On November 26, 2024, two workshops were held in Awaliya Meeting Hall in Awaliya Village, Khandwa district. The workshops were organised with the objective of formulating management actions to protect the habitat of the Forest Owlet with the support of the Forest Department and local communities. 

 

The first workshop was titled "A Workshop on Sustainable Owl-Friendly Timber Harvesting Practices." The aim was to provide an overview of our newly started project on Forest Owlet conservation to the senior Forest Officers and discuss the provisions of Selection cum Improvement Felling in the Forest Owlet habitat. 

 

The second workshop was titled " Living with Owls: How We Can Protect Owls in Our Landscape." This was organised for the Sarpanch and Gram Sabha Members of the villages where we want to raise awareness about the forest owlet and other owls in the area. The main aim was to introduce our project and engage community leaders in future conservation efforts.

 

During the workshop, we distributed a booklet titled "Raat ke Prahari: Dost Hamare", which focuses on the owls found locally in the Khandwa and Burhanpur districts. The booklet provides detailed information on various owl species, including their local names, distribution, and characteristics and threats.

 

Discussions during the workshops stressed the need to protect trees with cavities and minimize disturbances to owl habitats, particularly during timber harvesting. The formation of the "Dooda Mitra" group and the creation of a WhatsApp group for local communities showed the growing commitment to working together for owl conservation.

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The workshops ended with a renewed sense of community involvement and a shared commitment to preserving the Forest Owlet and other species. Thanks were given to all participants, guests, and supporting organizations for making these workshops successful.