Navi Mumbai: In the two-day district level Friends of Birds summit held on Sunday and Monday, it was revealed that more than 350 species of birds are noticed in Ratnagiri district. The event was attended by top forest officials and the former principal chief conservator of forests Sunil Limaye. The event focused on avian research and conservation. The participants had bird watching at Kajarghati Devrai, Sada Mirya Nachane Mangrove Safari, among others. Around 500 bird species including 220 migratory ones are found in the state. The district mostly having private forest cover, is also a tourist destination. It attracts a large number of tourists for the beaches and religious places. Addressing the participants, Limaye said that all should focus on how fewer trees should be cut down to save the forest cover. An official of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve-Chandoli, Tushar Chavan said that there are 1,300 birds in India, and about 500 birds in Maharashtra.“Ratnagiri district has a 167 km wide coastline and the Sahyadri mountain ranges. There are large varieties of animals and birds here. More than 350 species of birds are found. Bird lovers, bird experts, and researchers must make efforts to bring the name of Ratnagiri district on the world map as a nature tourism and bird tourism destination. This summit was organised to create awareness in this regard,” said Girija Desai, divisional forest officer at Ratnagiri.Chief conservator of forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Jitendra Ramgaonkar said there are different species of birds in the district but their conservation is the job of all.
