Planting hope for migratory birds in Tamil Nadu wetlands

By A Representative 

Amidst World Migratory Bird Day, May 10, 2025, a crucial conservation effort is underway in the wetlands of Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, offering a beacon of hope for avian visitors. Social enterprise Grow-Trees.com is planting 10,000 trees in the region as part of its "Trees for Migratory Birds™" initiative, aiming to bolster the rapidly declining wetland habitats vital for these long-distance travelers.

Villupuram's wetlands serve as a significant stopover and nesting ground for a diverse array of bird species. Resident birds such as the Green Bee-eater, Black Drongo, and Paddyfield Pipit share the landscape with migratory visitors including majestic Cranes, elegant Pelicans, Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Pond Heron, Little Heron, Black-headed Ibis, and the distinctive Garganey.

This initiative comes at a critical time. Experts warn that India has lost two out of every five wetlands, making conservation efforts in regions like Villupuram paramount for safeguarding crucial habitats. Speaking last month at the Sinhasi Social Impact Conference in Bengaluru, Ramsar Convention Secretary General Dr Musonda Mumba emphasized the alarming global decline of wetlands, even as India now boasts the highest number of Ramsar sites in South Asia (80). A study by Wetlands International South Asia (WISA) further highlights the urgency, revealing that nearly a third of India’s natural wetlands have vanished in the past four decades due to urbanisation, agricultural expansion, and pollution.

Wetlands provide essential ecological services, acting as natural water filters, replenishing groundwater, and mitigating floods. They are also biodiversity hotspots, particularly vital for migratory birds that depend on these areas for sustenance, breeding, and rest during their arduous journeys. Worryingly, bird counts over the last three decades indicate a consistent decline in migratory bird arrivals across India, with wetland-dependent species facing significant threats to their traditional stopover and wintering grounds.

As World Migratory Bird Day is observed today, conservationists are calling for stronger collaboration between conservation organizations, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and local environmental champions to intensify wetland protection and restoration efforts. These actions are deemed crucial not only for the survival of migratory birds but also for the preservation of local biodiversity.

In Villupuram, a region recognized for its ecological significance – a recent two-day bird census recorded 146 species and nearly 10,000 individual birds – Grow-Trees.com has taken proactive steps. "Wetlands in Villupuram are critical habitats for a variety of species, especially migratory birds. Their rapid decline threatens the survival of these birds and adversely impacts the ecological balance of the region," states Pradip Shah, co-founder of Grow-Trees.com.

The social enterprise has committed to planting 10,000 native trees, including species like Indian Tulip, Arjun, African Mahogany, Jamun, and Yellow Teak, near Temple Lake in Athikuppam village, Marakkanam block, during 2024–2025. This initiative aims to revitalize the ecosystem and ensure the area remains a viable natural haven for migratory birds.

Mr. Shah expresses optimism about the long-term impact of this project. "By tackling habitat loss through tree planting and wetland conservation, we can hope to see more migratory birds returning to Villupuram in the near future," he concludes, highlighting the potential for future bird censuses to reflect the positive outcomes of this vital conservation endeavor.