March 20 is observed as the World Sparrow Day to create awareness about the bird that is on the verge of extinction due to loss of habitat.
There has been a tremendous decrease in their population and this year’s theme for the World Sparrow Day is ‘is I love Sparrows’. It is inspired by the hope that more people will celebrate the relationship between human and sparrows every year.
Nature Forever Society (NFS) of India which was founded by Mohammed Dilawar, an Indian conservationist started this initiative. Dilawar was named one of the “Heroes of the Environment” for 2008 by Time for his efforts to save the birds.
To convey the message of conservation of sparrows and other common birds and also to celebrate the beauty of the common biodiversity, a day was earmarked. The biodiversity is taken for granted in this fast running world. The first World Sparrow Day was observed in 2010 in various parts across the world. Art competitions, awareness campaigns, and sparrow processions, as well as interactions with media, were some of the activities common to this day. Several national and international organisations, also Eco-Sys Action Foundation in France collaborate to celebrate March 20.
The first Sparrow Awards was instituted by NFS in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 20 March 2011 to encourage efforts made by people towards this cause.
[Image: dinocro.info]
