CELEBRATION OF WORLD WETLANDS DAY, 2003
Chilika, India

Chilika Development Authority is observing World Wetlands Day since from the year, 1999. Every year it is celebrated at different locations in and around the Chilika lagoon. This year the Worlds Wetlands Day, 2003 (WWD-03) was celebrated in a befitting manner by Chilika Development Authority in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Government of Orissa, Ramsar Centre Japan, Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, along with the local Community based organizations, NGOs and the community in and around the Chilika.

Celebration of WWD-03 at Pathara

The venue of the WWD-03 celebration was village Pathara which is a fishermen village located on the shore of Chilika lagoon. The star attraction of the celebration was a boat race by fisher-folk women.


Trying hard for the victory	A team work

he programme was organised by Chilika Machyajeevi Mahila Mahasangha, Pathara (Women Fishermen Federation); Pallishree, a grass-root level NGO; in association with a number of community based organizations from in and around Chilika and Chilika Development Authority.

The Winners

TIt was followed by a public meeting and more than 5,000 fisher-folk attended the same. Ms Reiko Nakamura, Secretary-General, Ramsar Centre, Japan, Dr. T.Tsujii, President, Wetlands International, Japan who had came all the way from Japan and the local peoples representatives graced the function. Three resource books in local language on birds, plants and fish of Chilika, along with the 8th issue of the Newsletter in local language “CHILIKA DARPANA” (Mirror of Chilika) and a poster of Chilika was released. The above E.E.materials were produced by the Pallishree an NGO with the financial support from JFGE Japan. Prizes were distributed to the winners of the essay, quiz and debate competition which was organised amongst the local school children. The representatives from different village organizations spoke on the occasion. Various speakers highlighted the importance of the World Wetland Day and spoke about the values and function of wetlands. A write-up on the wise-use of the lagoon resource in local language was also circulated. After the function a cultural function was organised by the artist from the village.


Dr. T.Tsuji, President, WI, Japan addressing the gathering	Ms Reiko Nakamura, Secretary-General, Ramsar Centre, Japan addressing the community

Another unique feature of this year’s celebration of WWD-03 was the observation of Asian Wetland Week (AWW) for one week in collaboration with Ramsar Centre, Japan. The theme of the AWW was Children and Wetland. The AWW was inaugurated on 1st February, 2003 at Basudevpur High School (a school located on the shore of Outer channel of Chilika). The celebration was inaugurated with the hoisting of a flag and was attended by Ms Reiko Nakamura, Secretary-General, Ramsar Centre, Japan, Dr. T.Tsujii, President, Wetlands International, Japan. More than 200 schools located in different parts of Chilika participated in the WW celebration. To generate awareness, about the conservation and wise-use of the wetland resources essay, debate and painting competition was organised among the school

Release of resource book in local language.

children. The week long programme in connection with celebration at different venue is appended to this report.

Cultural programme ? Folk dance by a local artist

Celebration of Asian Wetland Week ? at Basudevpur High School

The winner of boat race receiving the trophy

Celebration of Asian Wetland Week (AWW-2003)

On 2nd February, 2003, a round table discussion was held at Bhubaneswar in collaboration with Xavier Institute of Management on wetlands in Orissa with focus on Urban wetlands. More than 30 experts from different field participated in the round table discussion and the outcome of the discussion was drafted in form of a recommendation.