The Ministry of Environment’s Pakistan Wetlands Programme (PWP) organised two days certificate training course on “Bird Identification and data recording” for the field staff of the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department (PW&PD) at Kallar Kahar and Khabekki lakes during December 28th-29th 2010. The training was conducted by Mr. Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, Wetlands Biologist, who has spent more than 12 years in monitoring and surveying water birds across the country and a number of peer-reviewed publications to his credit.
The objective of the training was to train the professional field staff of the PW&PD in bird identification and data recording procedures, as a learning tool and to provide a comprehensive overview of different aspects of the survey techniques and allied disciplines to the participants for effective management of wetlands in their region. This course will strengthen the professionals with applied field research techniques, who have the responsibility for programmes on conservation of biodiversity, especially the wetlands of Pakistan. Further, it is intended to help them navigate through the basic field and applied research environment in such a way so as to promote sound scientific management of wetlands resources of Pakistan.
The training course offered the participants an opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills to enhance their job performance. The specific training topics designed for the participants were the use of optical aids (binoculars and spotting scopes), bird identification based on field characteristics, bird census techniques, introduction to bird topography (anatomy of birds), data collection/recording and compilation and the ethics, equipment and care of equipment in the field. The training was imparted to the participants using interactive approaches followed by the MS PowerPoint Multi-media presentations, group work and practical field demonstrations on the lakes.
During the course, a total of 18 field staff of Salt Range region of PW&PD including11 participants from district Chakwal and 06 from district Khushab were trained. The participants were the field watchers and wildlife
inspectors of the Wildlife Department. During training sessions, participants were requested time to time to provide their written/verbal feedback, to ensure either the programme proceeds according to the expectations of training participants. At the end of the training, a structured evaluation was carried out and a follow-up action plan was developed for future. From the evaluation it became quite obvious that the training course offered by PWP successfully achieved its objectives. All the participants expressed their overall satisfaction with the training method and expertise of the training team.
At the end of the training course, certificates and awareness material were distributed among the participants. The Pakistan Wetlands Programme believe that this training course will help the department in developing a local pool of trained professional staff, who will further play an important role in conservation efforts in the Salt Range.
For Further details
Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry
Wetlands Biologist, Pakistan Wetlands Programme
House No. 62, Street No. 25, Sector F-10/1, Islamabad
Ph: ++92-51-2114125-29
Fax: ++92-51-2114130
email:jichaudhry@wwf.org.pk
