Pink Celebration 2016
Porbandar, Gujarat
28-29 May, 2016
Jointly organized by
Gujarat Forest Department
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, New Delhi, India
and
Mokarsagar Wetland Conservation Committee, Porbandar
A Programme Under
Indo-German Biodiversity Programme
Conservation and Sustainable Management of Existing and Potential Coastal and Marine Protected Areas in India (CMPA)
Coastal Biodiversity Conservation & Awareness (CBCA)
The Government of India and the Government of Germany are working together on the project titled ‘Conservation and Sustainable Management of Existing and Potential Coastal and Marine Protected Areas’ (CMPA). The project is to be supported by the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Government of Germany and will be implemented by GIZ, New Delhi in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India. The overall objective of the project is, “Improved conservation and management of biodiversity in selected existing and potential Coastal and Marine Protected Areas (CMPA) supports improvements in biodiversity and local livelihoods”.
Porbandar City of Gujarat is well known as “Surkhabi Nagri” where Surkhab - the Fla-mingos are found in abundant in the vicinity of human habitation. Wetlands, in around Porban-dar are covered with pink carpet of Flamingos. Each year about 35000 Lesser and about 9000 Greater Flamingos are recorded from wetlands of Porbandar during Asian Waterbird Census. April to June is the courtship time for these birds. They perform the most stunning and beautiful courtship dance during this period wherein; a tightly packed group of males walk and perform synchronized movements to woo their partners.
Since last three years, MWCC with local stakeholders and various target groups tries to raise public awareness on flamingos as Pink Celebration at Porbandar, the urban flamingo city. Number of participant rise every year and this year we expect almost 80 to 90 participants from all over India. Every year, the event receives positive feedback from the participants, Forest De-partment, NGOs, conservationists, wildlife photographers and nature lovers of Gujarat.
The event provides an excellent opportunity to observe courtship dance of Lesser fla-mingos at Chhaya Wetland of Porbandar. More than 10000 flamingos congregating at one place is a heart rendering experience. Pink Celebration is not merely for enjoying the beauty of nature but henceforth will also stand for the challenges being faced for wetland conservation both by the conservationists as well as the Forest Department. As part of this we have planned a work-shop jointly with the Forest Department and GIZ to understand the challenges and opportunities of conservation. This workshop will have conservation experts from various field put forward their views and experiences.