Sparrow conservation drive held at Hyderabad Botanical Garden on World Sparrow Day
HYDERABAD: Telangana Forest Development Corporation Limited marked World Sparrow Day at the Botanical Garden in Hyderabad, highlighting the declining presence of sparrows in urban areas and calling for community-driven conservation efforts.
The event was organised by “Deccan Woods & Trails”, the corporation’s ecotourism initiative, to raise awareness about the ecological importance of sparrows and the need to protect their habitats.
For centuries, sparrows have coexisted with humans, contributing to pollination, pest control and maintaining ecological balance. Officials said rapid urbanisation, habitat destruction and indiscriminate pesticide use have led to a sharp decline in their numbers.
Call for household-level conservation measures to support sparrow survival
Senior Divisional Manager and Assistant Director (Eco-Tourism) K. Shireesha urged residents to adopt simple conservation steps. She suggested planting native trees and shrubs, avoiding pesticide use, creating nesting spaces such as birdhouses and ensuring accessible water sources for birds.
Around 30 walkers and visitors took part in a sparrow house-making session and a water bowl placement activity at the Botanical Garden. The initiative aimed to create safe nesting spaces and hydration points for sparrows within the premises.
Officials said the disappearance of sparrows is an indicator of environmental degradation and stressed that conservation efforts must begin at the household level.
Projects Manager K. Suman, Plantation Manager V. Lakshmareddy, Forest Range Officer S. Srinivas Rao, Deputy Forest Range Officer Srinivasu Reddy and Naturalist Samson Raju were present at the programme.
