Housing campaign for birds takes flight in Manaung

By Admin 26 Sep 2023

DMG Newsroom
26 September 2023, Manaung

Activists working for environmental conservation have been installing 150 birdhouses in Arakan State’s Manaung Township to provide shelter for birds as part of their conservation efforts.

Birdhouses have been installed since September 23 at Theinbala Beach, Mt. Taungni and in trees near coral reefs in Manaung Island, with the aim of protecting bird species and improving biodiversity, said Ko Aung Myint Thu, who led the efforts.

“Mostly, birdhouses were installed in places that have potential for urbanisation. Trees in those places might be cut down when they develop. So, we have installed birdhouses as a preventative measure,” he said.

The birdhouses were funded by writer Aung Zay Min from Ramree Township and assorted bird lovers. They were made of timber and bamboo, and come in three shapes. A birdhouse costs approximately 5,000 kyats.

In March, activists started installing 120 birdhouses in two mountains in Ramree Township. More than 400 birdhouses have been installed so far.

Manaung resident Ko Myint Myat Aung said: “This will help prevent extinction of bird species and damage to the ecosystem. We support their efforts, and we hope more birdhouses will be installed.”

With depletion of inland forests and their mangrove counterparts, certain bird species are losing their habitats, environmentalists have warned.

There are more than 100 bird species in Arakan State, and birds of bigger sizes in particular are facing danger of extinction, said U Yan Naung Soe of the Rakhine Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association.

“We continuously monitor and record the population of birds. Bird populations have significantly declined. People should not poach birds for meat,” said U Yan Naung Soe.

Environmentalists have called for conservation of forests and funding to conserve bird species.