They are opposing the idea of uploading the survey results and sharing the GPS location of habitats on the ornithological data base - eBird.org.Kochi: The Kerala Bird Atlas program, an ambitious initiative to document the bird diversity in the state, has been mired in controversy and faces allegations of potentially putting the lives of unique and endangered species under threat.
A section of avian experts and avid birdwatchers in the state has come out in the open against the project. According to them, there is every chance of the data generated through the atlas survey being misused by poachers. The precious information on bird diversity and distribution collected using the e-bird application developed by the US-based Cornell University could only help increase the vulnerability of several species to endangerment, they argued.
They are opposing the idea of uploading the survey results and sharing the GPS location of habitats on the ornithological data base - eBird.org.
The Center for Wildlife Studies under the Kerala Agriculture University is in charge of the project. On January 25, the chief wildlife warden gave approval to a proposal seeking permission to record GPS locations of bird habitats in protected forest areas and upload the scientific survey results on eBird.org, triggering a controversy.
Being a citizen science project, bird images and species-specific information are collected and uploaded on the website by birdwatchers in each district. The only condition specified in the guideline is that they should not share or publish the information or photos without the forest department’s permission.
However, those who oppose the project pointed out that anybody can log on to the website and gain access to all the information. Putting sensitive data regarding several endangered species in the public domain will have an adverse impact on conservation initiatives, they added.
